title: Immunomodulatory activity of the seeds of Plantago asiatica L.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The seeds of Plantago asiatica L. were often used as a traditional Chinese medicine for some immunologically weak patients suffering from chronic illness. These uses could be related to immunomodulatory properties of the plant.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  In this study, effects of extract of the seeds of Plantago asiatica L. (ES-PL) were investigated on the maturation of dendritic cells (DCs), which play significant role in primary immune system.
  
  
  METHODS
  The phenotypes of DCs were analyzed by using flow cytometry while phagocytosis was assessed by the uptake of FITC-dextran. Antigen presenting ability to allogeneically naïve or syngeneically primed T lymphocytes was examined by the lymphocyte proliferation of mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR). In addition, the level of chemokine receptor CCR7 mRNA was determined by RT-PCR.
  
  
  RESULTS
  DCs treated with ES-PL expressed higher levels of MHC class II molecules and major costimulatory molecules such as CD80 and CD86. Functional maturation of DCs treated with ES-PL was confirmed by decreased mannose receptor-mediated endocytosis and increased antigen presenting abilities to allogeneically naïve or syngeneically primed T lymphocytes. The CCR7 mRNA expression in DCs treated with ES-PL was also enhanced.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results indicated that ES-PL could induce the maturation of murine DCs.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330047, China.
authors.forename: Dan-Fei
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Ming-Yong
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Jun-Yi
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.forename: Shao-Ping
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Nie
authors.forename: Yong-Fu
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Xiao-Mei
authors.initials: XM
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Chao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhou
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000938:Antigen-Presenting Cells / Q000187:drug effects; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000187:drug effects; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000187:drug effects; D015536:Down-Regulation; D004705:Endocytosis / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D005802:Genes, MHC Class II / Q000235:genetics; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D037181:Lectins, C-Type / Q000187:drug effects; D007959:Lymphocyte Culture Test, Mixed; D000090323:Mannose Receptor; D037241:Mannose-Binding Lectins / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010047:Ovalbumin / Q000276:immunology; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology; D010943:Plantago / Q000737:chemistry*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D054400:Receptors, CCR7 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000187:drug effects; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012639:Seeds / Q000737:chemistry; D013268:Stimulation, Chemical
chemical_list: C515371:Ccr7 protein, mouse; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D000090323:Mannose Receptor; D037241:Mannose-Binding Lectins; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D054400:Receptors, CCR7; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D010047:Ovalbumin