title: Modulation of experimental autoimmune uveitis with formosanin-C in guinea pigs.
abstract: Formosanin-C, a diosgenin saponin, was isolated from a perennial herb, Paris formosana Hayata (Liliaceae) which has been used as a folk remedy for snake bite and as an anti-inflammatory or anti-neoplastic agent. Its effect on the development of S-antigen-induced experimental autoimmune uveitis (EAU) in guinea pigs was studied. Guinea pigs treated with formosanin-C (1.5 mg/kg/2 days and 0.5 mg/kg/2 days) were compared with untreated guinea pigs in regard to the development of EAU, lymphocytic proliferative responses, and anti-S-antigen serum antibodies. The higher dosage of formosanin-C (1.5 mg/kg) obviously delayed the onset of EAU. Treatment of this drug, 1.5 mg/kg and 0.5 mg/kg doses, significantly inhibited the specific lymphocytic response of lymph node and spleen cells to S-antigen. On the contrary, treatment in 1.5 mg/kg dose significantly increased the response of lymph node and spleen cells to the polyclonal T cell mitogen, phytohemagglutinin (PHA). Treatment with formosanin-C in both the 1.5 mg/kg and 0.5 mg/kg doses had a minimal effect on the lymphocytic response of lymph node to concanavalin-A (ConA), while a noticeable suppressive effect on the response of spleen cells to ConA was observed in the 1.5 mg/kg dose. This agent in 1.5 mg/kg and 0.5 mg/kg doses significantly inhibited the anti-S-antigen antibody production by days 14 and 18 postimmunization. This study suggests that formosanin-C, an immunomodulator, may offer a new approach to modulate the development of EAU.
authors.affiliation: Graduate Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, National Yang-Ming Medical College, Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C.
authors.forename: R T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: H C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Chiang
authors.forename: L Y
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Horng
authors.forename: Y M
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Chung
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D000941:Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D019393:Arrestin; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D004144:Diosgenin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D005136:Eye Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000166:cytology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D012503:Saponins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology; D014605:Uveitis / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000941:Antigens; D019393:Arrestin; D001323:Autoantibodies; D005136:Eye Proteins; D012503:Saponins; C067584:formosanin C; D004144:Diosgenin