Ability of two new thiazolidinediones to downregulate proinflammatory cytokines in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from children with asthma

Allergic asthma is a chronic, complex inflammatory disease of the airway. Despite extensive studies on the immunomodulation of T helper (Th) cell pathways (i.e., Th1 and Th2) in asthma, little is known about the effects of Th17 pathway modulation, particularly that involving peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs). In response, two new thiazolidinedione derivatives-namely, LPSF-GQ-147 and LPSF-CR-35 were synthesized and evaluated for their immunomodulatory effects on Th17-related cytokines, including interferon gamma (IFN gamma), interleukin IL-6, IL-17, and IL-22 in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells of asthmatic children. Both compounds were nontoxic even at high concentrations (i.e., 100 mu M). The LPSF-CR-35 compound significantly reduced the levels of IL-17A (p = .039) and IFN gamma (p = .032) at 10 mu M. For IL-22 and IL-6, significant reduction occurred at 100 mu M (p= .039 and p = .02, respectively). Conversely, LPSF-GQ-147 did not significantly inhibit the production of the tested cytokines, the levels of all of which were more efficiently reduced by LPSF-CR-35 than methylprednisolone, the standard compound. Real-time polymemse chain reaction assay confirmed that LPSF-GQ-147 has significant PPAR gamma modulatory activity. Such data indicate that both LPSF-CR-35 and LPSF-GQ-147 are promising candidates as drugs for treating inflammation and asthma.