Evaluation of Inhibitory Activities of UK-2A, an Antimycin-Type Antibiotic, and Its Synthetic Analogues against the Production of Anti-inflammatory Cytokine IL-4

The inhibitory activities of the antimycin-class antibiotics UK-2A, antimycin A, and splenocin B against the production of anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-4, which is related to IgE-mediated allergic responses in rat basophilic leukemia (RBL-2H3) cells, were evaluated. Although antimycin A and splenocin B showed cytotoxicity at concentrations at which IL-4 release from the cells was restricted, UK-2A was found to restrict IL-4 release without cytotoxicity. Three UK-2A analogues (4–6) were then synthesized and assessed. Compound 5 restricted IL-4 release dose-dependently without cytotoxicity, and its effect was more potent than that of UK-2A.