The JI PBL Intereron Source
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     
 

This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Blaylock, B. L.
Right arrow Articles by Luster, M. I.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Blaylock, B. L.
Right arrow Articles by Luster, M. I.

The Journal of Immunology, Vol 147, Issue 7 2116-2121, Copyright © 1991 by American Association of Immunologists

ARTICLES

Pentamidine isethionate reduces Ia expression and antigen presentation by Langerhans cells and inhibits the contact hypersensitivity reaction

BL Blaylock, Y Kouchi, CE Comment, E Corsini, GJ Rosenthal and MI Luster
Immunotoxicology Group, National Institute of Environment Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709.

The mechanism of action of pentamidine isethionate, a diamidino compound used in the treatment of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia, is unknown. We recently reported that this drug may inhibit the release of inflammatory mediators from alveolar macrophages, which may be associated with its antiparasite activity. As a potential anti- inflammatory agent, we report that topically applied pentamidine reduces ear swelling in the contact hypersensitivity reaction to oxazolone in B6C3F1 mice. The application of pentamidine must occur within 1 h, at the challenge site, to be effective. Topical application appears necessary, because i.v. injection had no effect on reduction of ear swelling. In dose-response studies, a 50% reduction in ear swelling was achieved with as little as 20 micrograms of pentamidine. Pentamidine did not affect Ag transport from the challenge site to the draining lymph nodes, as measured by FITC transport. However, there was a 30 to 40% reduction in epidermal cells expressing Ia Ag from pentamidine-treated mouse ears, compared with control. Ia expression is almost exclusively limited to Langerhans cells in the normal epidermis. This reduction in Ia expression was not due to simple depletion of Langerhans cells by pentamidine, because CD45 expression was unaffected. Concurrent with reduced Ia expression, Ag presentation by pentamidine-treated Langerhans cells was also reduced. Taken together, a mechanism of action for pentamidine in inhibition of the contact hypersensitivity reaction appears to be via a reduction in Ag presentation by decreasing Ia+ Langerhans cells.


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther.Home page
T. E. Lawrence, L. L. Millecchia, and J. S. Fedan
Fluticasone Propionate and Pentamidine Isethionate Reduce Airway Hyperreactivity, Pulmonary Eosinophilia and Pulmonary Dendritic Cell Response in a Guinea Pig Model of Asthma
J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther., January 1, 1998; 284(1): 222 - 227.
[Abstract] [Full Text]


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
This Website Copyright © 1991 by The American Association of Immunologists, Inc. All rights reserved.
All Contents Copyright © 1991 by The American Association of Immunologists, Inc. All rights reserved.