Efficacy of tacrolimus in inhibiting inflammation caused by carrageenan in a murine model of air pouch.

Abstract Background Tacrolimus (Tac) is a macrolide immunosuppressant drug isolated from Streptomyces tsukubaensis , widely used in organ transplantation. Objective This study examined the effect of tacrolimus administered by oral route (p.o.) on inflammation in mouse subcutaneous air pouch triggered by carrageenan (Cg 1%). Methods The air pouch was induced as described by Beninca et al. [Beninca JP, Montanher AB, Zucolotto SM, Schenkel EP, FrodeTS. Anti-inflammatory effects of the Passiflora edulis : forma flavicarpa Degener inhibition of leukocytes, enzymes and pro-inflammatory cytokine levels in the air pouch model, in mice. Food Chem 2007; 104(3); 1097–1105.]. The inflammatory parameters (leukocytes, exudation, myeloperoxidase (MPO) and adenosine-deaminase (ADA) activities, as well as nitrate/nitrate concentrations (NO x ), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), chemokine to neutrophil (KC) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) levels were analysed 24 h after injection of carrageenan. Results Tacrolimus, indomethacin and dexamethasone significantly inhibited leukocytes, neutrophils and exudation ( P P x and IL-1β levels ( P P P Conclusions Results of this study indicate that tacrolimus has an important anti-inflammatory property, showing not only inhibition of pro-inflammatory mediators release, but also inhibition of activated leukocyte infiltration into the site of inflammation. Furthermore, these results showed that most of the anti-inflammatory actions of tacrolimus were similar to those observed in animals treated with either indomethacin or dexamethasone.