Tanshinone IIA protects against immune-mediated liver injury through activation of T-cell subsets and regulation of cytokines.
OBJECTIVE
Tanshione IIA (TSN) is the major active component of Salvia miltiorrhiza, a traditional Chinese Medicine. TSN protects against antioxidant-induced liver injury, although the exact mechanism is not well understood.


METHODS
In this study, the protective effects of TSN was examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and histochemistry of several cytokines.


RESULTS
TSN is found to significantly reduce plasma alanin aminotransferase and aspartate amino transferase levels in mice with concanavalin A-induced immune-mediated liver injury. TSN increases T lymphocyte subset CD3+, CD4+ and CD8+ ratios.Also, TSN significantly reduces inflammatory cytokines, including interleukin-2, interleukin-4, interferon-gamma and tumor necrosis factor alpha, while elevates anti-inflammatory cytokine, interleukin-10.


CONCLUSIONS
TSN may provide a potential drug candidate for liver injury therapeutics.
Qin
Xiao-Yan
XY
Laboratory of Biotechnology and State Key Laboratory of Chinese ethnic minority traditional medicine, College of Life& Environmental Science, Minzu University of China, Beijing, China. bjqinxiaoyan@yahoo.com.cn
Li
Tang
T
Yan
Li
L
Liu
Qing-Shan
QS
Tian
Yu
Y
D045784:Abietanes; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D003208:Concanavalin A / Q000633:toxicity; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D010616:Phenanthrenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology
D045784:Abietanes; D016207:Cytokines; D010616:Phenanthrenes; C021751:tanshinone; D003208:Concanavalin A; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase