title: Physalins B, F and G, seco-steroids purified from Physalis angulata L., inhibit lymphocyte function and allogeneic transplant rejection.
abstract: Physalis angulata is a solanaceae widely used in folk medicine in various tropical countries in the world. We have previously described that seco-steroids (physalins) purified from P. angulata are potent inhibitors of macrophage activation, blocking the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and LPS-induced lethality. Herein we investigated the immunomodulatory activities of these substances in lymphocyte proliferation and cytokine production and in transplantation. The addition of physalins B, F or G to concanavalin A-activated splenocyte cultures induced a concentration-dependent inhibition of proliferation. Physalin B also inhibited IL-2 production by Con A-activated spleen cells. The addition of 2 mug/ml physalin B to mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) caused a 100% inhibition of proliferation. More importantly, treatment of mice with physalin B, F or G prevented the rejection of allogeneic heterotopic heart transplant. Our results demonstrate the suppressive activity of physalins B, F and G in lymphocyte function and indicate the potential use of physalins as immunosuppressive agents for treatments of pathologies in which inhibition of immune responses is desired.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Pesquisas Gonçalo Moniz, FIOCRUZ, BA, Brazil.
authors.forename: M B P
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Soares
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Brustolim
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Bellintani
authors.forename: F P
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: Paiva
authors.forename: Y M
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
authors.forename: T C B
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Tomassini
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ribeiro Dos Santos
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D003208:Concanavalin A / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016027:Heart Transplantation / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008808:Mice, Inbred CBA; D015735:Mifepristone / Q000494:pharmacology; D032321:Physalis; D012632:Secosteroids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D007376:Interleukin-2; D012632:Secosteroids; D003208:Concanavalin A; C033270:physalin B; D015735:Mifepristone; C075425:physalin F