Trichosanthin, an extract of Trichosanthes kirilowii, effectively prevents acute rejection of major histocompatibility complex-mismatched mouse skin allograft.
Trichosanthin is an active component extracted from the root tuber of the Chinese medicinal herb Trichosanthes kirilowii. Trichosanthin has abortifacient, anti-tumor, anti-HIV, and immunoregulatory functions. In the current study, we explored its potential effect on allograft rejection in a murine skin transplantation model across a fully mismatched major histocompatibility complex. It was found that treatment of recipient mice with trichosanthin (0.25 or 1 mg/kg, IP) significantly delayed allograft rejection. T cells that originated from recipients treated with trichosanthin were restimulated with donor-specific splenocytes showed a significantly reduced response compared with that of control recipients. In line with these results, the mRNA levels for interleukin (IL)-2 and interferon-gamma were decreased and the levels of IL-4 and IL-10 were increased in splenic T cells originating from trichosanthin-treated recipients. These results indicated that trichosanthin may have potential therapeutic value for transplantation rejection and other inflammatory diseases.
Gong
Q
Q
Department of Immunology, Medical School of Yangtze University, Jingzhou, China.
Deng
D
D
Ding
J
J
Wang
C
C
Bian
Z
Z
Ye
Z
Z
Xu
J
J
D000199:Actins / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D017931:DNA Primers; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006650:Histocompatibility Testing; D007378:Interleukins / Q000235:genetics; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D008285:Major Histocompatibility Complex; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous; D029778:Trichosanthes; D015978:Trichosanthin / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000199:Actins; D017931:DNA Primers; D007378:Interleukins; D010936:Plant Extracts; D015978:Trichosanthin