Effects of Anti-Tuberculosis Drugs on the Production of Prostaglandin E₂ and on Mononuclear Leucocyte Transformation

Abstract

The effects of the anti-tuberculosis (TB) drugs isoniazid, rifampicin, streptomycin, pyrazinamide and ethambutol on the synthesis of prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) by polymorphonuclear leucocytes were investigated. Only rifampicin at a concentration of 100 μg/ml caused statistically significant stimulation of PGE₂ production whereas the other compounds had no effect. Immunomodulatory properties of the compounds individually and in combination were investigated using phytohaemagglutinin-stimulated mononuclear leucocyte transformations. Rifampicin caused dose-dependent inhibition of blastogenesis and combinations containing this agent also had an inhibitory effect. The prostaglandin synthesis inhibitor indomethacin caused stimulation of phytohaem-agglutinin responsiveness and this effect was not influenced by the presence of the anti-TB drugs.