Immunosuppressive effects of emodin: an in vivo and in vitro study.
OBJECTIVE
We sought to investigate the immunosuppressive effects of emodin and its potential in vivo and in vitro mechanisms.


METHODS
In vitro immunosuppressive effects of emodin were analyzed by its ability to suppress the response of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells to phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and to mixed lymphocyte culture (MLC). We examined changes in interleukin (IL)-2 and IL-4 in within MLC supernates. The in vivo immunosuppressive effects of emodin were analyzed using a skin transplantation model in mice. We also investigated the mean survival time (MST) and plasma IL-2 levels.


RESULTS
In vitro experiments: Responses of mononuclear cells to PHA and MLC were suppressed by emodin treatment. Decreased production of IL-2 along with promoted secretion of IL-4 was also observed by emodin treatment during MLC. In vivo experiments: The emodin-treated group showed prolonged MST of skin grafts and decreased serum IL-2 production.


CONCLUSIONS
Emodin showed immunosuppressive activities both in vivo and in vitro. The potential immunosuppressive mechanism of emodin's may be suppression of lymphocyte proliferation and influences on cytokines.
Liu
Y-X
YX
Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Medical College, Xi'an JiaoTong University, Xi'an, China.
Shen
N-Y
NY
Liu
C
C
Lv
Y
Y
D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D004642:Emodin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006085:Graft Survival / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000097:blood; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D007959:Lymphocyte Culture Test, Mixed; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins / Q000494:pharmacology; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000276:immunology; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous / Q000276:immunology
D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D007376:Interleukin-2; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D004642:Emodin