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European Cytokine Network

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A short course of oral aspirin increases IL-18-induced interferon-g production in whole blood cultures. Volume 11, issue 3, September 2000

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Authors
Division of Infectious Diseases, B168, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, 4200 East Ninth Ave., Denver, CO 80262, USA

The effect of aspirin on whole blood cytokine production was studied in six healthy volunteers. Four days after cessation of a 3-day regimen of 650 mg of oral aspirin, there was a 70% increase in interferon-g (IFN-g) production, stimulated by a combination of interleukin-18 (IL-18) plus lipopolysaccharide (p < 0.05). At this time, there was a 4-fold increase in the production of tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-a) compared to pre-aspirin levels (p < 0.03). TNF-a and IFN-g production returned to pre-aspirin levels one month after the discontinuation of aspirin. Short-term aspirin treatment induces a significant increase in the production of these cytokines, probably through inhibition of prostaglandins. These data suggest a novel pathway through which long aspirin use reduces the risk of colon cancer, and may explain the effects of aspirin in inflammatory bowel disease.