Int J Antimicrob Agents. 1999 Jan; 11(1): 69-74.

Effects of Yokuinin on the therapeutic efficacy of a new benzoxazinorifamycin KRM-1648 against Mycobacterium avium infection.

Shimizu T, Tomioka H, Sato K, Sano C, Yamada Y, Shibata H, Higashi N.

Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Shimane Medical University, Izumo, Japan.

The Chinese traditional medicine, Yokuinin, which has anti-inflammatory effects and anti-human papilloma virus activity, was examined for its effects on the therapeutic efficacy of a benzoxazinorifamycin KRM-1648 (KRM) against Myobacterium avium infection in mice. Reverse transcription-PCR analysis revealed that Yokuinin increased the mRNA expression of all test cytokines in lung tissues of infected ice at week 8, in the order transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) > IFN-gamma > TNF-alpha > IL-10. Mice given Yokuinin in combination with KRM had higher levels of TFG-beta mRNA expression than did mice given KRM alone, indicating that TGF-beta plays an important role in the expression of the anti-inflammatory effect of Yokuinin in vivo. Yokuinin reduced IL-10 production by M. avium-infected macrophages ph. (M phis) but did not affect M phi TFG-beta production. Although Yokuinin significantly modified cytokine expression in M. avium-infected mice, this drug did not influence the therapeutic efficacy of KRM against M. avium infection, suggesting that administration of Yokuinin in combination with KRM to the patients with M. avium infection does not cause severe disadvantages.