Inhibitory effects of anti-inflammatory drugs on interleukin-6 bioactivity

Abstract

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is known as a proinflammatory cytokine involved in immune response, inflammation, and hematopoiesis. Inhibitory effects of anti-inflammatory drugs on IL-6 bioactivity using IL-6-dependent hybridoma have been evaluated. Three out of 16 nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) showed IC50 values of less than 100 μM, which were in the order of oxyphenylbutazone hydrate (IC50=7.5 μM)>meclofenamic acid sodium salt (31.9 μM)>sulindac (74.9 μM). Steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (SAIDs) exhibited significant inhibitory effects at 100 μM on the IL-6 bioactivity, and their inhibitory potencies were in the order of budesonide (IC50=2.2 μM)>hydrocortisone 21-hemisuccinate (6.7 μM), prednisolone (7.5 μM), betamethasone (10.9 μM)>dexamethasone (18.9 μM) and triamcinolone acetonide (24.1 μM). The results would provide an additional mechanism by which anti-inflammatory drugs display their anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive effects at higher concentrations.