AUGMENTATION BY PHTHALIMIDES OF PHORBOL ESTER-INDUCED EXPRESSION OF TUMOR NECROSIS FACTOR ALPHA MESSAGE

N(α)-Phthalimidoglutarimide (thalidomide), 2-(2, 6-diisopropylphenyl)-1H-isoindole-1, 3-dione (PP-33) and its 4, 5, 6, 7-tetrafluoro derivative (FPP-33) augmented 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate-induced production by human leukemia HL-60 cells of both tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) mRNA and secreted TNF-α protein. Intracellular TNF-α protein production was increased to a lesser extent.