[Theophylline does not exert an effect on the early phase of TNF-alpha through the activity of human monocytes]
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 30, 2026

Determination of the Relative Potency of an Anti-TNF Monoclonal Antibody (mAb) by Neutralizing TNF Using an In Vitro Bioanalytical Method
Published on: September 16, 2017
J Chorostowska-Wynimko1, U Demkow, J Kuś
1Zakładu Immunologii, Instytutu Gruźlicy i Chorób Płuc w Warszawie.
Abstract:
Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) is commonly recognized as a one of the most important mediators of allergic inflammation and hyperreactivity in bronchial asthma. Several studies proved the inhibitory effect of theophylline (including it's subtherapeutic doses) on the synthesis of TNF-alpha in 24 hrs monocyte cultures. The aim of our study was to determine the influence of therapeutic and subtherapeutic concentrations of the drug on the early phase of TNF-alpha release. We showed that theophylline did not significantly alter the cytokine concentration measured by Elisa method in supernatants from 2 hrs monocyte cultures stimulated by LPS (1 microgram/ml). Therefore, we concluded that the mechanism of theophylline inhibitory action on TNF-alpha production is more likely associated with changes in genome expression, than with the inhibition of the cytokine liberation from the cell.
Related Concept Videos
Antiasthma Drugs: Methylxanthines
Theophylline is thought to inhibit phosphodiesterase enzymes, increasing intracellular levels of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP). This rise in cAMP and cGMP concentrations stimulates cardiac function,...
Drugs for Treatment of Crohn's Disease in IBD Using Biologic Agents: Anti-TNF
Desensitization and Tachyphylaxis
Several...
Pharmacogenetics of Phase II Enzymes: N-acetyltransferase, Thiopurine S-methyltransferase, UDP-glucuronosyltransferase
T Cell Types and Functions
Th1 cells stimulate dendritic cells to express necessary co-stimulatory molecules on their surfaces for...
NF-κB-dependent Signaling Pathway
NF-κB-dependent Signaling Mechanism
The heterodimer of NF-κB...
