The modulatory effect of tetrandrine on the CD23, CD25 and HLA-DR expression and cytokine production in different groups of asthmatic patients.

The therapeutic effect and mechanism of action of tetrandrine on asthma are not defined. Recently, it has been proposed that mononuclear cell (MNC) infiltration in the airway plays a role in the pathogenesis of asthma. In this study, we evaluated the effect of tetrandrine on the cell receptor expression and cytokine production of MNC from two groups (young atopic and old non-atopic) of stable asthmatic patients. MNC separated from peripheral blood of both asthmatic patients and normal individual were cultured in serum free RPMI-1640, with or without phytohemagglutinin (5 micrograms/ml) and tetrandrine (2 micrograms/ml). After culture, MNCs were harvested and stained with monoclonal antibodies for HLA-DR, CD23, CD25 and CD3. MNC supernatants were collected for the measurement of IL-2, IL-4 and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma). The results show that tetrandrine may inhibit (1) MNC proliferation, (2) the production of IL-2, IL-4 and IFN-gamma, and (3) the expression of HLA-DR, CD23 and CD25 on CD3 positive T cells. They were inhibited to a similar extent in both groups of asthmatic patients. These results suggest that tetrandrine might have some therapeutic role in relation to the suppression of lymphocyte function in asthmatics.