Cicaprost and the type IV phosphodiesterase inhibitor, rolipram, synergize in suppression of tumor necrosis factor-alpha synthesis

Suppression of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF) synthesis is one major target in pharmacological immunomodulation. We now showed the synergistic suppressive effect of the specific type IV phosphodiesterase inhibitor, rolipram, and of the stable prostacyclin analogue, cicaprost, on TNF synthesis. This effect was seen with lipopolysaccharide and Staphylococcus epidermidis as stimuli in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells and in whole blood. Lipopolysaccharide-induced TNF synthesis by mononuclear cells decreased from 3.4 ng/ml to 1.5 ng/ml in the presence of 100 nM rolipram and to 0.7 ng/ml in the presence of 10 nM cicaprost. The combination of both agents suppressed TNF synthesis more than 10-fold, to 0.3 ng/ml. Synergistic suppression was also demonstrated for TNF mRNA.