Repression of T-cell function by thionamides is mediated by inhibition of the activator protein-1/nuclear factor of activated T-cells pathway and is associated with a common structure.

Treatment of hyperthyroidism by thionamides is associated with immunomodulatory effects, but the mechanism of thionamide-induced immunosuppression is unclear. Here we show that thionamides directly inhibit interleukin-2 cytokine expression, proliferation, and the activation (CD69 expression) of primary human T lymphocytes. Inhibition of immune function was associated with a repression of DNA binding of the cooperatively acting immunoregulatory transcription factors activator protein 1 (AP-1) and nuclear factor of activated T-cells (NFAT). Likewise, thionamides block the GTPase p21Ras, the mitogen-activated protein kinases, and impair the calcineurin/calmodulin-dependent NFAT dephosphorylation and nuclear translocation. The potency of inhibition correlated with the chemical reactivity of the thionamide-associated sulfur group. Taken together, our data demonstrate that thio-derivates with a common heterocyclic thioureylene-structure mediate a direct suppression of immune functions in T-cells via inhibition of the AP-1/NFAT pathway. Our observations may also explain the clinical and pathological resolution of some secondary, calcineurin, and mitogen-activated protein kinase-associated diseases upon thionamide treatment in hyperthyroid patients. This offers a new therapeutic basis for the development and application of heterocyclic thio-derivates.