Finasteride Enhances the Generation of Human Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells by Up-Regulating the COX2/PGE2 Pathway
June 2016
in “
PLOS ONE
”
TLDR Finasteride boosts immune cells that suppress T-cells, possibly helping with immune disorders but may increase cancer risk.
The study identified finasteride (FIN) as a potent drug that enhanced the generation of human myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) by up-regulating the COX2/PGE2 pathway. Through high-throughput screening of 1,280 FDA-approved drugs, FIN was found to increase MDSCs without significant cytotoxicity, primarily affecting monocytic MDSCs that could suppress T-cell proliferation. The mechanism involved increased COX2 expression and PGE2 production, crucial for MDSC differentiation and function. These findings suggested potential therapeutic applications for FIN in immune disorders, autoimmune diseases, and transplant rejection, although it also raised concerns about increased cancer risks due to immune tolerance.
