The influence of carbamazepine on cytokine and superoxide anion production in blood leukocytes of healthy volunteers.

The aim of this paper is to evaluate whether carbamazepine (CBZ) may influence in vitro cytokine and superoxide anion (O2-) production by blood leukocytes of healthy volunteers. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were induced in vitro with phytohemagglutinin (PHA) + lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in the absence or presence of CBZ. Cytokine concentration in culture media was measured by ELISA method. The influence of CBZ on resting (not induced) and phorbol ester (PMA)-induced O2- production by neutrophils isolated from the blood of healthy volunteers was also examined. CBZ at 1 microM concentration caused a significant decrease in IL-2, IL-4 and lymphotoxin, but enhanced IL-10 and TGF-beta production. CBZ also stimulated PMA-induced O2- production. In conclusion, the in vitro study revealed that CBZ may exert immunoregulatory activity inhibiting "stimulatory" cytokines, enhancing the production of "inhibitory" ones and enhancing the "oxidative burst" of neutrophils.