Inhibition of cytokine production and endothelial expression of adhesion antigens by 5′-methylthioadenosine

We investigated the activity of endogenous nucleoside 5′-deoxy-5′-methylthioadenosine (MTA) on both the production of inflammatory cytokines and the cytokine-dependent endothelial expression of adhesion molecules. The compound inhibited the production of tumor necrosis factor (but not interleukin-1) in lipopolysaccharide-activated macrophages. In addition, MTA selectively inhibited the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 in endothelial cells activated with interleukin-1. This effect was paralleled by a reduction in endothelial adhesiveness for polymorphonuclear leukocytes. These data suggest that MTA might have anti-inflammatory activity.