Inhibition of uPAR X-396 solubility dmso mRNA was most noticeable. In the control experiment, TNF-α was neither induced by TGF-β nor inhibited by Smad3 siRNA. The effect of known inhibitors of TGF-β signalling, Smad3 inhibitor (SIS3), ALK-5 inhibitor

(SB-431542) and macrolides (erythromycin, clarythromycin and EM703) on TGF-β signalling and induction of uPAR was assessed next. MN were cultured in Accel medium at 1.5 × 105/well in the presence and absence of inhibitors of TGF-β signalling. MTB H37RvL (10 μg/ml) or PPD (10 μg/ml) were then added and cells harvested 24 h later in Qiagen RNA buffer. Total RNA was isolated and assessed for uPAR mRNA. In initial dose–response experiments (n = 4), we did not find any effect of erythromycin or its derivatives (tested at 50–300 μm) on inhibition of uPAR mRNA, whereas both SIS3 and SB-431542 were effective at 1–10 μm (data not shown). Figure 2 shows the results of 12 experiments of induction of uPAR mRNA by MTB H37RvL (10 μm) (Fig. 2A) or PPD (10 μm) (Fig. 2B) and inhibition of TGF signalling by SIS3

(1 and 5 μm) and SB-431542 (1 and 5 μm). Results shown are mean ± SEM experiments. Induction of uPAR mRNA by PPD was lower in every experiment as compared to MTB H37RvL (P < 0.001) (comparison of first panel from Fig. 2A,B). Whereas SIS3 at both doses effectively inhibited uPAR mRNA induced by MTB H37Rv L (P < 0.01 and 0.05, respectively), INCB024360 mouse inhibition of induction of uPAR mRNA by either dose of SB-431542 was more variable and only significant at 5 μm of the inhibitor (P < 0.01). The inhibitory effect of both SIS3 and SB-431542 on PPD-induced uPAR expression was also very variable and only significant at 5 μm of SB-431542 (P < 0.05). At sites of TB, a major determinant of TGF-β activity is the molecular context that allows its bioactivation and signalling.

Studies to date implicate that 10–20% of TGF-βin PJ34 HCl situ is in it’s bioactive state [3]. Further, uPAR mRNA levels were significantly elevated in TB involved as compared to TB uninvolved lung lavage from patients with smear negative pulmonary TB (Z. T. Zahra Toossi, Unpublished observations). Collectively, these data are supportive of use of TGF-β signalling inhibitors as adjuncts to antituberculosis therapy. A spectrum of activity of the inhibitors of bioactive TGF-β was found here; whereas the potency of SIS3 was notable, the better studied SB-431542 was less active. None of the macrolides used were effective in inhibition of TGF-β signalling in induction of uPAR mRNA in human MN. This is disappointing because of lack of toxicity of erythromycin and clarythromycin, which are already in clinical use. Recently, blockade of TGF-β signalling by an orally available type I receptor (Alk5/4) inhibitor augmented efficacy of immunogen therapy in a murine model of prostate cancer [14]. In the current work, ALK5 inhibitor SB431542 did not effectively inhibit induction of uPAR expression in human mononuclear phagocytes.