Journal of Neuroimmunology
Volume 218, Issue 1 , Pages 28-35, 25 January 2010

Modulating dendritic cells (DC) from immunogenic to tolerogenic responses: A novel mechanism of AZA/6-MP

  • Alessandra Aldinucci

      Affiliations

    • Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Florence, Italy
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Department of Neurological Sciences, viale Pieraccini 6, 50134 Florence, Italy. Tel./fax: +39 0554271377.
    • ,
  • Tiziana Biagioli

      Affiliations

    • Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Florence, Italy
    • ,
  • Cinzia Manuelli

      Affiliations

    • Department of Dermatological Sciences, University of Florence, Italy
    • ,
  • Anna Maria Repice

      Affiliations

    • Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Florence, Italy
    • ,
  • Luca Massacesi

      Affiliations

    • Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Florence, Italy
    • ,
  • Clara Ballerini

      Affiliations

    • Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Florence, Italy

Received 23 July 2009; received in revised form 15 October 2009; accepted 2 November 2009. published online 26 November 2009.

Abstract 

Azathioprine (Aza), 6-Mercaptopurine (6-MP) and 6-Thioguanine (6-TG) are thiopurine drugs widely used as immunosuppressants/anti-inflammatory agents in organ transplantation and chemotherapy. Aza is well tolerated and effective in modifying the course of MS. Here we investigated the action of 6-MP on human dendritic cells (DCs). We described for the first time that 6-MP impairs in vitro differentiation of DCs, has an inhibitory effect during DC activation processes inducing a functionally less immunogenic phenotype. Moreover, 6-MP significantly reduces DC IL-23 production and CCR7 expression, at the same time induces IL-10 augmentation. All these findings add a novel action mechanism in Aza immune modulation.

Keywords: Azathioprine, Dendritic cells, Tolerance

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PII: S0165-5728(09)00435-4

doi:10.1016/j.jneuroim.2009.11.001

Journal of Neuroimmunology
Volume 218, Issue 1 , Pages 28-35, 25 January 2010

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