The effect of slow acting antirheumatic drugs on the production of cytokines by human monocytes

Abstract

The mode of action of slow acting antirheumatic drugs (SAARDs) is poorly understood. Interleukin (IL)-1α, IL-1β, IL-6 and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)α are pleiotropic cytokines produced predominantly by macrophages which have been implicated in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis. We have investigated the potential of the following drugs to modulate the production of those cytokines by purified human monocytes stimulated by either lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or cytokines in vitro: gold sodium thiomalate (GST), auranofin, hydroxychloroquine (HCQ),d-penicillamine (d-Pen), sulphasalazine and its metabolites, sulphapyridine and 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA).Auranofin, HCQ and sulphasalazine, ..