Effects of Carteolol Hydrochloride on the InVitro Production of LPS–Induced Proinflammatory Cytokines by Murine Macrophage

Abstract

Abstract: : Purpose: We investigated whether carteolol hydrochloride, which has intrinsic sympathomimetic activity (ISA), inhibits the production of pro–inflammatory cytokines using mouse macrophages (MPs) and peripheral–blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Methods: MPs and PBMCs were collected from BALB/C strain mice, treated simultaneously with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and test agents (carteolol hydrochloride, timolol maleate, betaxolol hydrochloride, levobunolol hydrochloride or nipradilol) in medium, and incubated in a CO₂ incubator. TNF–α and IL–6 in medium were measured by ELISA. Results: Carteolol hydrochloride significantly inhibited the production of TNF–α and IL–6 by MPs at 10^–5 M and higher (P < 0.01) or PBMCs at 10^–6 M and higher (P < 0.01) when compared to the control, while the other test agents had no inhibitory effect. Conclusions: Carteolol hydrochloride inhibited the production of pro–inflammatory cytokines by inflammatory cells, raising the possibility that this intra–ocular hypotensive drug has anti–inflammatory effects in patients post–operative inflammation.

Keywords: pharmacology • cytokines/chemokines • drug toxicity/drug effects