Antagonist effect of Interleukin 1 receptor on normal thymopoiesis and thymus toxicity of 5-azacytidine in mouse.

Thymopoiesis is essential and significant for development and maintenance of the robust and healthy immune system. The acute suppression of thymopoiesis induced by 5-Azacytidine (5-Aza) is an intractable clinical problem complicating chemotherapy. Interleukin 1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) is a cytokine that competitively blocks binding of interleukin 1 (IL-1) to its receptor. This study aims to investigate the effects of the IL-1Ra on the thymus toxicity of 5-Aza in mouse. In this study, we treated the mice with the 5-Aza (100 mg/kg per mouse). The GeneChip methodology developed by Affymetrix was used to monitor global gene expression during mouse thymus regeneration induced by a single injection of 5-Aza. The total thymocytes were counted using a hemocytometer. Cell cycle of samples were analyzed on a Becton Dickinson FACScan. Cells surfaces were labeled with anti-CD4, anti-CD8 and anti-CD45RA antibodies, and detected by flow cytometry. BrdU incorporation was detected by flow cytometry. The results indicated that administering exogenous IL-1Ra to normal mice inhibited cell cycle progress of thymocytes in a dosage-dependent manner. Proliferation of immature CD4(-)CD8(-) double negative (DN) and CD4(+)CD8(+) double positive (DP) thymocytes were both inhibited. The pretreatment of normal mice with exogenous IL-1Ra reduced acute toxicity on thymus and immune suppression induced by 5-Aza. Furthermore, thymus reconstitution after 5-Aza treatment was accelerated by IL-1Ra. In conclusion, interleukin 1 receptor antagonist could inhibit normal thymopoiesis and reduce thymus toxicity of 5-azacytidine in mouse. Pretreatment with IL-1Ra would offer a new and promising strategy to alleviate immunotoxicity of chemotherapy in clinical.