title: Enhancement of interleukin-2 production and its mRNA expression by dihydroartemisinin.
abstract: Immunoregulatory properties of a novel antimalarial drug dihydroartemisinin (DHA) were investigated in vitro. DHA 0.5-5 mumol.L-1 enhanced the lymphocyte proliferation induced by Con A. Interleukin 2 (IL-2) production and its mRNA expression by both Con A-stimulated mouse splenocytes and a T cell line LBRM-33-1A5 were also augmented by DHA. In contrast, DHA 0.5-5 mumol.L-1 did not show any effect on the lipopolysaccharides (LPS)-induced lymphocyte proliferation and the spontaneous and mitogen-induced proliferation of transformed T cells. These results indicated that DHA might regulate lymphocyte responses through the induction of IL-2 production and that the enhanced T cell proliferation and IL-2 production might be mediated through different pathways.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Beijing Medical University, China.
authors.forename: S X
authors.initials: SX
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: H L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Z Z
authors.initials: ZZ
authors.lastname: Long
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000494:pharmacology*; D037621:Artemisinins; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002460:Cell Line; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism*; D012717:Sesquiterpenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology
chemical_list: D000962:Antimalarials; D037621:Artemisinins; D007376:Interleukin-2; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012717:Sesquiterpenes; C039060:artenimol