title: Andrographolide reduces IL-2 production in T-cells by interfering with NFAT and MAPK activation.
abstract: The nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) is a transcription factor essential for cytokine production during T-cell activation and is the target of several immunosuppressive drugs. Andrographolide is a diterpenic labdane that possesses anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects. Several studies propose that andrographolide can reduce the immune response through inhibition of the nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB) and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) such as extracellular signal regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) pathways. Moreover, andrographolide reduces IFN-gamma and IL-2 production induced by concanavalin A in murine T-cell. Nevertheless, the mechanisms involved in the decrease of cytokine production are unknown. In the present study, we determined that andrographolide reduced IL-2 production in Jurkat cells stimulated with phorbol myristate acetate and ionomycin (PMA/Ionomycin). We then showed that andrographolide reduced NFAT luciferase activity and interfered with its nuclear distribution, with these effects being linked to an increase in c-jun-N-terminal kinase (JNK) phosphorylation. Additionally, reduction of NF-kappaB activity in Jurkat cells treated with andrographolide was observed. Using Western blotting, we demonstrated that andrographolide decreased ERK1 and ERK5 phosphorylation induced by anti-CD3 or PMA/Ionomycin. Andrographolide did not affect cell viability at concentration of 10 and 50 muM; however, our results suggest that andrographolide increase early apoptosis at 100 muM. We concluded that andrographolide can exert immunomodulatory effects by interfering with NFAT activation and ERK1 and ERK5 phosphorylation in T-cells.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Veterinary Science, Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Institute of Pharmacology, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile.
authors.forename: María D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Carretta
authors.forename: Pablo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Alarcón
authors.forename: Evelyn
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jara
authors.forename: Loreto
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Solis
authors.forename: Juan L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Hancke
authors.forename: Ilona I
authors.initials: II
authors.lastname: Concha
authors.forename: María A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Hidalgo
authors.forename: Rafael A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Burgos
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology; D017252:CD3 Complex / Q000276:immunology; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D004224:Diterpenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D042541:Intracellular Space / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D015759:Ionomycin / Q000494:pharmacology; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D019169:Jurkat Cells; D008156:Luciferases / Q000378:metabolism; D020929:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D050778:NFATC Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D021381:Protein Transport / Q000187:drug effects; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D017252:CD3 Complex; D004224:Diterpenes; D007376:Interleukin-2; D050778:NFATC Transcription Factors; C030419:andrographolide; D015759:Ionomycin; D008156:Luciferases; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D020929:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate; D002118:Calcium