Antithrombin III inhibits lymphocyte proliferation, immunoglobulin production and mRNA expression of lymphocyte growth factors (IL-2, γ-IFN and IL-4) in vitro

Background: Antithrombin III (AT-III) is a physiological inhibitor of thrombin and other serine proteases, and has antiinflammatory properties. Thrombin is known to enhance T lymphocyte activation in vitro and serine proteases can act as costimulators for lymphocyte proliferation and cytokine production. We have previously shown that AT-III significantly inhibited allograft rejection in a highly histoincompatible model of rat lung transplantation and in vitro cell proliferation in ConA-stimulated rat spleen cells. In this study, we examined the involvement of cytokine gene expression in the above inhibitory effect of AT-III. We also examined the effect of AT-III on several in vitro immune reactions in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Methods: mRNA expression of cytokines/cytokine receptor important in lymphocyte activation was examined. Rat spleen cells were stimulated with Con-A with/without AT-III and submitted for reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). To assess the effect of AT-III on human PBMCs, we examined the effects of AT-III on cell proliferation of human PBMCs stimulated in mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) (allogeneic stimulation), with OKT3 (T cell receptor activation) and with PHA (mitogenic stimulation). The effect of AT-III on PWM-stimulated immunoglobulin (Ig) production by human PBMCs was also examined. All experiments for cell proliferation were performed in 10% serum and in serum-free (SF) media to determine whether AT-III exerted its effects through its interaction with thrombin in serum. Results: mRNA expression of IL-2, gamma -IFN and IL-4 in ConA-stimulated rat spleen cells was nearly completely inhibited by AT-III at 15 IU/ml. mRNA levels for IL-6, IL-2R and TGF-betaI were not significantly affected by AT-Ill. AT-III showed a dose-dependent inhibition of cell proliferation in human PBNICs. At 15 IU/ml, cell proliferation was inhibited by similar to 86%, similar to 81% and similar to 56% in the MLR-, OKT3- and PRA-stimulated PBMCs, respectively in both serum and SF media. AT-III inhibited PWM-stimulated Ig production in a dose-dependent manner. IgG, IgM and IgA production was reduced by similar to 60%, 80% and 70%, respectively in cultures incubated with 15 IU/ml AT-III. Conclusions: (1) Inhibition of IL-2, gamma -IFN and IL-4 mRNA expression might be responsible for inhibition of cell proliferation by AT-III in ConA-stimulated rat spleen cells, (2) AT-III inhibits cell proliferation in the MLR-, OKT3- and PHA-stimulated human PBMCs, and Ig production in PWM-stimulated human PBMCs, (3) The immune regulatory effects of AT-III are independent of its interaction with thrombin since similar levels of suppression were seen in SIT media, and (4) These results suggest that AT-III has potent inhibitory effects on lymphocyte activation and cytokine production and may have potential applications as an immunomodulatory agent. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.