Ciamexone, a highly selective immunomodulator--a tool for autoimmune diseases?

Both organ-specific diseases such as insulin dependent diabetes mellitus as well as non organ-specific disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis are thought to be autoimmune in origin. Both T-cell and B-cell mediated immune responses are involved in these diseases. More or less specific immunosuppressants are therefore widely used drugs in the treatment of autoimmune diseases which, however, suppress the immune reactions not only against autoantigens but also against foreign antigens. Cyclosporine (Cyclosporin A) has been a tremendous step forward in a more specific direction but it creates problems in the long term treatment of autoimmune diseases due to the impairment of immune reactions against foreign antigens as well as to compound specific side effects. Ciamexone, a new highly selective immunomodulator, might be an interesting new approach in the treatment of autoimmune diseases. The compound has had effect in different experimental autoimmune situations such as the diabetic BB-rat and experimentally-induced arthritis in mice or rats. The compound does not show antiproliferative activity on T-lymphocytes or B-lymphocytes. The immune response against foreign antigens, e.g. foreign major histocompatibility complex, viral or fungal antigens is not impaired. On the other hand, however, Ciamexone suppresses the antibody production in different animal systems. It is likely that Ciamexone exhibits its immunosuppressive property via the induction of regulating mechanisms. Due to its remarkably good tolerance, Ciamexone has been used in first pilot trials in different human autoimmune situations such as rheumatoid arthritis and insulin dependent diabetes mellitus.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)