Tehran University of Medical Sciences International Journal of Hematology-Oncology and Stem Cell Research 2008-2207 10 2 2016 04 12 99 105 EN Fatemeh Hajighasemi Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Shahed University, Tehran, Iran. Abbas Mirshafiey Department of Pathobiology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. 2015 10 18 2015 10 19 Introduction: Cytokines are a large group of proteins play a key role in inflammation. Down-regulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines has beneficial effect on heart function. Propranolol, as a non selective beta-adrenergic blocker, has been extensively used for treatment of many cardiovascular problems such as arrhythmias and heart malfunction. In addition anti-inflammatory effects of propranolol have been revealed. In this study the propranolol effect on T helper type 1 cytokine profile in human leukemic T cells has been assessed in vitro. Materials and methods: Human leukemic T cells (Molt-4 and Jurkat) were cultured in complete RPMI medium. The cells were then incubated with different concentrations of propranolol (0.03- 30 µM) in the presence or absence of PHA (10 µg/ml) for 48 hours. The supernatants of cell culture media were collected and used for cytokines assay. Results: Propranolol significantly decreased the T helper type 1 cytokine profile [Interleukin-2 (IL-2) and Interferon- γ (IFN-γ)] production in PHA stimulated Molt-4 and Jurkat cells, after 48 hour of incubation time, dose-dependently compared to untreated control cells. Conclusion: Our data showed a dose dependent inhibitory effect of propranolol on the IL-2 and IFN-γ production in human leukemic Molt-4 and Jurkat cells. The anti- inflammatory effect of propranolol reported by other investigators may be in part due to its suppressive effect on production of inflammatory cytokines such as IL-2 and IFN-γ. So, propranolol along with its chronic long-term usage in cardiovascular problems may have potential implication in treatment of inflammatory-based disorders. https://ijhoscr.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijhoscr/article/view/478 https://ijhoscr.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijhoscr/article/download/478/483