title: Modulatory effects of Echinacea purpurea extracts on human dendritic cells: a cell- and gene-based study.
abstract: Echinacea spp. are popularly used as an herbal medicine or food supplement for enhancing the immune system. This study shows that plant extracts from root [R] and stem plus leaf [S+L] tissues of E. purpurea exhibit opposite (enhancing vs inhibitory) modulatory effects on the expression of the CD83 marker in human dendritic cells (DCs), which are known as professional antigen-presenting cells. We developed a function-targeted DNA microarray system to characterize the effects of phytocompounds on human DCs. Down-regulation of mRNA expression of specific chemokines (e.g., CCL3 and CCL8) and their receptors (e.g., CCR1 and CCR9) was observed in [S+L]-treated DCs. Other chemokines and regulatory molecules (e.g., CCL4 and CCL2) involved in the c-Jun pathway were found to be up-regulated in [R]-treated DCs. This study, for the first time, demonstrates that E. purpurea extracts can modulate DC differentiation and expression of specific immune-related genes in DCs.
authors.affiliation: Agricultural Biotechnology Research Center, Academia Sinica, Nankang, Taipei 115, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: Chien-Yu
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Agricultural Biotechnology Research Center, Academia Sinica, Nankang, Taipei 115, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: Ming-Tsang
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Chiao
authors.affiliation: Agricultural Biotechnology Research Center, Academia Sinica, Nankang, Taipei 115, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: Po-Jen
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Yen
authors.affiliation: Agricultural Biotechnology Research Center, Academia Sinica, Nankang, Taipei 115, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: Wei-Chou
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Agricultural Biotechnology Research Center, Academia Sinica, Nankang, Taipei 115, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: Chia-Chung
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Hou
authors.affiliation: Agricultural Biotechnology Research Center, Academia Sinica, Nankang, Taipei 115, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: Shih-Chang
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Chien
authors.affiliation: Agricultural Biotechnology Research Center, Academia Sinica, Nankang, Taipei 115, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: Kuo-Chen
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Yeh
authors.affiliation: Agricultural Biotechnology Research Center, Academia Sinica, Nankang, Taipei 115, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: Wen-Ching
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Agricultural Biotechnology Research Center, Academia Sinica, Nankang, Taipei 115, Taiwan, Republic of China. Electronic address: lfshyur@ccvax.sinica.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Lie-Fen
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Shyur
authors.affiliation: Agricultural Biotechnology Research Center, Academia Sinica, Nankang, Taipei 115, Taiwan, Republic of China. Electronic address: nsyang@gate.sinica.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Ning-Sun
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D018925:Chemokines / Q000378:metabolism; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D015536:Down-Regulation; D020900:Echinacea / Q000737:chemistry*; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000378:metabolism; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis / Q000379:methods*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry; D018547:Plant Stems / Q000737:chemistry; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D019707:Receptors, Chemokine / Q000378:metabolism; D015854:Up-Regulation; D000097802:CD83 Antigen
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D018925:Chemokines; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D010936:Plant Extracts; D011506:Proteins; D019707:Receptors, Chemokine; D000097802:CD83 Antigen