title: Silybin inhibition of human T-lymphocyte activation.
abstract: Silybin, a 3-oxyflavone occurring in the thistle Silybum marianum, displays a dose-dependent inhibition of in-vitro lymphocyte blastogenesis induced by lectins (phytohaemagglutinin, Concanavalin A and pokeweed) and by anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody. The drug has no effect on cell viability and spontaneous 3H-thymidine incorporation, suggesting that the inhibitory activity is not due to aspecific toxicity. Since all the T-cell responses investigated require cell-membrane-associated events, the effect of silybin is probably at the level of the cell membrane, as for other flavonoids. Addition of CuSO4 prevents the inhibitory activity of silybin on PHA-induced proliferative response, indicating that the drug could exert its activity also by virtue of a chelation mechanism.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Internal Medicine, Infectious Diseases and Immunopathology, University of Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Meroni
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Barcellini
authors.forename: M O
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Borghi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vismara
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ferraro
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ciani
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zanussi
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003300:Copper / Q000494:pharmacology; D004247:DNA / Q000096:biosynthesis; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D037102:Lectins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D012838:Silymarin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects*; D013936:Thymidine / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D005419:Flavonoids; D037102:Lectins; D012838:Silymarin; D003300:Copper; D004247:DNA; D013936:Thymidine