title: Thymus-dependent increase in number of T cells in parathymic lymph nodes induced by the biscoclaurine alkaloid, cepharanthine.
abstract: In mice treated with cepharanthine (Cepha), a biscoclaurine alkaloid, the number of T cells was increased in the parathymic lymph nodes (PtLNs) which are considered to be the specialized lymph nodes in local differentiation of T cells. Such PtLN cells exhibited augmented proliferative responses to T cell mitogens and exogenous interleukin 2 (IL 2) and showed a great ability to produce IL2, which suggests an increase in mature T cells in the PtLN. However, such increases in the number of T cells and in the mitogen response were not observed in adult thymectomized mice. A low level of plasma prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) was observed in Cepha-treated mice. Replenishment of the PGE2 in such mice with exogenous PGE2 prevented the increase in T cells in the PtLN. These results suggest that the migration of mature T cells from the thymus to PtLN is increased by Cepha and that Cepha is able to regulate their traffic by a prostaglandin-mediated system.
mesh_terms: D000470:Alkaloids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D044182:Benzylisoquinolines; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects; D015232:Dinoprostone; D005260:Female; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D008934:Mitogens; D011458:Prostaglandins E / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000494:pharmacology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D052117:Benzodioxoles
chemical_list: D000470:Alkaloids; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D044182:Benzylisoquinolines; D015232:Dinoprostone; D007376:Interleukin-2; D008934:Mitogens; D011458:Prostaglandins E; C006947:cepharanthine; D052117:Benzodioxoles