title: Synergistic immunosuppressive effects of rosmarinic acid and rapamycin in vitro and in vivo.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We previously demonstrated that rosmarinic acid (RosA) inhibits T-cell antigen receptor-induced T-cell activation and proliferation. In this study, we evaluated the ability of RosA alone and in conjunction with currently used immunosuppressive drugs to inhibit in vitro splenic T-cell proliferation and prolong skin graft survival in vivo.
  
  
  METHODS
  Mouse splenic T-cell proliferation assays were performed in the presence of RosA alone or in combination with cyclosporine, rapamycin (Rapa), or prednisone (Pred). The in vivo synergistic efficacy of RosA and Rapa was evaluated in the mouse skin allograft model.
  
  
  RESULTS
  RosA combined with Rapa or prednisone synergistically inhibited splenic T-cell proliferation, whereas the combination of RosA and cyclosporine additively inhibited T-cell proliferation. The combination of RosA and Rapa synergistically prolonged allograft survival.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We conclude that the combination of RosA and Rapa promotes immunosuppressive effects.
authors.affiliation: Signal Transduction Laboratory, Mogam Biotechnology Research Institute, Gyonggido, Korea.
authors.forename: Su-Young
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Yun
authors.forename: Yun-Gyoung
authors.initials: YG
authors.lastname: Hur
authors.forename: Mi-Ae
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Jihyun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Curie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.forename: Jonghwa
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Won
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002934:Cinnamates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000494:pharmacology; D053630:Depsides; D004357:Drug Synergism; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000494:pharmacology; D006085:Graft Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D011241:Prednisone / Q000494:pharmacology; D020123:Sirolimus / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016038:Skin Transplantation; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology; D000097123:Rosmarinic Acid
chemical_list: D002934:Cinnamates; D016572:Cyclosporine; D053630:Depsides; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D011241:Prednisone; D020123:Sirolimus; D000097123:Rosmarinic Acid