Ribavirin in Cancer Immunotherapies: Controlling Nitric Oxide Augments Cytotoxic Lymphocyte Function

Either ribavirin (RBV) or cyclophosphamide (CY) can shift an immune response from Th2 toward a Thi cytokine profile. CY is used in this role in various current cancer immunotherapy attempts but with mixed success. More potent and reliable immunoadjuvants and Th1 response biasing methods are needed....

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Neoplasia (New York, N.Y.) N.Y.), 2003-01, Vol.5 (1), p.3-8
Main Author: Kast, Richard E
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
adjuvant
Animals
Antimetabolites - therapeutic use
cancer immunotherapy
hepatitis C
Humans
Immunotherapy
inflammation
interferon-alpha
lymphocyte
macrophage
Neoplasms - immunology
Neoplasms - pathology
Neoplasms - therapy
nitric oxide
Nitric Oxide - metabolism
Nitric Oxide Synthase - antagonists & inhibitors
Review
Ribavirin - therapeutic use
T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic - physiology
Th1 Cells - immunology
Th2 Cells - immunology
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Summary:Either ribavirin (RBV) or cyclophosphamide (CY) can shift an immune response from Th2 toward a Thi cytokine profile. CY is used in this role in various current cancer immunotherapy attempts but with mixed success. More potent and reliable immunoadjuvants and Th1 response biasing methods are needed. RBV is used today mainly to augment interferon-alpha treatment of hepatitis C. RBV shifts an immune response from Th2 toward Th1 more effectively than CY and may be a safe and useful adjuvant for current cancer immunotherapeutic efforts. RBV is thought to act by inhibition of tetrahydrobiopterin synthesis. Tetrahydrobiopterin is an essential cofactor for all known isoforms of nitric oxide synthase. Lowered nitric oxide favors Th1 development as high levels favor Th2 weighting.
ISSN:1476-5586
1522-8002
1476-5586
1522-8002
DOI:10.1016/S1476-5586(03)80011-8