Sildenafil Citrate Influences Production of TNF-α in Healthy Men Lymphocytes

The aim of our study was to determine whether sildenafil citrate influences the production of Th1- (TNF-α, INF-γ) or Th2-type (TGF-β, IL-10) cytokines by lymphocytes of healthy men. Sildenafil citrate (SC) is a selective blocker of phosphodiesterase 5, by competing for the binding site with cGMP. It...

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Main Authors: Michał Zych, Aleksander Roszczyk, Monika Kniotek, Beata Kaleta, Radoslaw Zagozdzon
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2019-01-01
Series:Journal of Immunology Research
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2019/8478750
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author Michał Zych
Aleksander Roszczyk
Monika Kniotek
Beata Kaleta
Radoslaw Zagozdzon
author_facet Michał Zych
Aleksander Roszczyk
Monika Kniotek
Beata Kaleta
Radoslaw Zagozdzon
author_sort Michał Zych
collection DOAJ
description The aim of our study was to determine whether sildenafil citrate influences the production of Th1- (TNF-α, INF-γ) or Th2-type (TGF-β, IL-10) cytokines by lymphocytes of healthy men. Sildenafil citrate (SC) is a selective blocker of phosphodiesterase 5, by competing for the binding site with cGMP. It was reported that a higher risk of sexually transmitted diseases (STD) could be correlated with a recreational use of sildenafil, especially when combined with another drug. While behavioral causes of these findings are understood, it is worth considering other causes of that phenomenon that might rely on the influence of sildenafil on the immune system. Material and Methods. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated from 27 healthy men donors and cultured in the presence of SC at a concentration of 400 ng/ml. The first set of research was performed on cells stimulated, for at least 4 hours, by incubation with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), ionomycin, and Golgi-Stop. Subsequently, we determined cytokine production in cells stimulated with phytohemagglutinin (PHA) for 12 hours in the presence of Golgi-Stop. Flow cytometry immunophenotyping of PBMC was performed towards the surface marker of T cells: CD3 and intracellular cytokine expression: TNF-α, IFN-γ, TGF-β, and IL-10. Our findings show that SC significantly decreased the percentage of T cells producing TNF-α and displayed tendency to decrease IFN-γ, when stimulated with PMA. Frequent usage of SC might strengthen this effect. That could partially explain the impaired immune response to the pathogens of men using the drug.
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spelling doaj-art-4a16238a67c148a886dfc5e79ab00a672025-08-20T03:20:12ZengWileyJournal of Immunology Research2314-88612314-71562019-01-01201910.1155/2019/84787508478750Sildenafil Citrate Influences Production of TNF-α in Healthy Men LymphocytesMichał Zych0Aleksander Roszczyk1Monika Kniotek2Beata Kaleta3Radoslaw Zagozdzon4Department of Clinical Immunology, Transplantation Institute, Medical University of Warsaw, Nowogrodzka 59, 02-006 Warsaw, PolandDepartment of Clinical Immunology, Transplantation Institute, Medical University of Warsaw, Nowogrodzka 59, 02-006 Warsaw, PolandDepartment of Clinical Immunology, Transplantation Institute, Medical University of Warsaw, Nowogrodzka 59, 02-006 Warsaw, PolandDepartment of Clinical Immunology, Transplantation Institute, Medical University of Warsaw, Nowogrodzka 59, 02-006 Warsaw, PolandDepartment of Clinical Immunology, Transplantation Institute, Medical University of Warsaw, Nowogrodzka 59, 02-006 Warsaw, PolandThe aim of our study was to determine whether sildenafil citrate influences the production of Th1- (TNF-α, INF-γ) or Th2-type (TGF-β, IL-10) cytokines by lymphocytes of healthy men. Sildenafil citrate (SC) is a selective blocker of phosphodiesterase 5, by competing for the binding site with cGMP. It was reported that a higher risk of sexually transmitted diseases (STD) could be correlated with a recreational use of sildenafil, especially when combined with another drug. While behavioral causes of these findings are understood, it is worth considering other causes of that phenomenon that might rely on the influence of sildenafil on the immune system. Material and Methods. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated from 27 healthy men donors and cultured in the presence of SC at a concentration of 400 ng/ml. The first set of research was performed on cells stimulated, for at least 4 hours, by incubation with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), ionomycin, and Golgi-Stop. Subsequently, we determined cytokine production in cells stimulated with phytohemagglutinin (PHA) for 12 hours in the presence of Golgi-Stop. Flow cytometry immunophenotyping of PBMC was performed towards the surface marker of T cells: CD3 and intracellular cytokine expression: TNF-α, IFN-γ, TGF-β, and IL-10. Our findings show that SC significantly decreased the percentage of T cells producing TNF-α and displayed tendency to decrease IFN-γ, when stimulated with PMA. Frequent usage of SC might strengthen this effect. That could partially explain the impaired immune response to the pathogens of men using the drug.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2019/8478750
spellingShingle Michał Zych
Aleksander Roszczyk
Monika Kniotek
Beata Kaleta
Radoslaw Zagozdzon
Sildenafil Citrate Influences Production of TNF-α in Healthy Men Lymphocytes
Journal of Immunology Research
title Sildenafil Citrate Influences Production of TNF-α in Healthy Men Lymphocytes
title_full Sildenafil Citrate Influences Production of TNF-α in Healthy Men Lymphocytes
title_fullStr Sildenafil Citrate Influences Production of TNF-α in Healthy Men Lymphocytes
title_full_unstemmed Sildenafil Citrate Influences Production of TNF-α in Healthy Men Lymphocytes
title_short Sildenafil Citrate Influences Production of TNF-α in Healthy Men Lymphocytes
title_sort sildenafil citrate influences production of tnf α in healthy men lymphocytes
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2019/8478750
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