Thalidomide selectively inhibits tumor necrosis factor α production by stimulated human monocytes

Abstract

Thalidomide selectively inhibits the production of human monocyte tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) when these cells are triggered with lipopolysaccharide and other agonists in culture. 40% inhibition occurs at the clinically achievable dose of the drug of 1 μg/ml. In contrast, the amount of total protein and individual proteins labeled with [35S]methionine and expressed on SDS-PAGE are not influenced. The amounts of interleukin 1β (IL-1β), IL-6, and granulocyte/ macrophage colony-stimulating factor produced by monocytes remain unaltered. The selectivity of this drug may be useful in determining the role of TNF-α in vivo and modulating its toxic effects in a clinical setting.