[Immunopharmacological action of sinomenine, an alkaloid isolated from Sinomenium acutum, and its mechanism of action in treating rheumatoid arthritis].
OBJECTIVE
To observe the effects of sinomenine on the immune functions and apoptosis of murine lymphocyte as well as on human synovial fibroblast proliferation.


METHODS
Both in vivo and in vitro tests were adopted. The lymphocyte proliferation induced by mitogens was assayed by MTT method. Spleen T lymphocyte subtypes were tested with flow cytometry. Spleen lymphocyte apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry and DNA ladder methods. In vitro test was adopted to observe the effects of sinomenine on the proliferation of human fibroblast of rheumatoid arthritis.


RESULTS
Sinomenine can inhibit the proliferation of mouse lymphocytes induced by ConA, LPS and anti-CD3 mAb but not PMA in vitro, and inhibit the proliferation induced by LPS and PMA in vivo. Sinomenine can reduce up-regulated CD4+/CD8+ ratio of T lymphocyte subtype in adjuvant arthritis rat. At the same concentration increased apoptosis ratio. As to human synovial fibroblast, sinomenine can significantly inhibit proliferation of human fibroblast.


CONCLUSIONS
Sinomenine can inhibit the immunological function and correct imbalance of CD4+/CD8+ ratio of T lymphocyte subtype. It can also increase apoptosis ratio of spleen lymphocyte. This may be the mechanism of its immunological inhibitory effect.
Liu
Ji-hong
JH
Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing 100083, China.
Li
Wei-dong
WD
Teng
Hui-ling
HL
Lin
Zhi-bin
ZB
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D001169:Arthritis, Experimental / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000473:pathology*; D016516:CD4-CD8 Ratio; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009019:Morphinans / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D032841:Sinomenium / Q000737:chemistry; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology*; D013583:Synovial Membrane / Q000473:pathology
D009019:Morphinans; C009271:sinomenine