Thalidomide Prevents Formation of Multinucleated Giant Cells (Langhans-Type Cells) from Cultured Monocytes: Possible Pharmaceutical Applications for Granulomatous Disorders

Thalidomide is an effective drug for chronic inflammatory diseases, but the mechanism underlying its immunomodulatory action remains uncertain. Thalidomide has been reported to clinically improve chronic inflammatory granulomatous disorders. In such disorders, the granulomas consist of epithelioid cells, scattered lymphocytes and multinucleated giant cells (MNGC; Langhans-type cells). The present…