Anti-inflammatory effects of Artemisia princeps in antigen-stimulated T cells and regulatory T cells.
OBJECTIVE
The aim was to investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of Artemisia princeps extract on the activity of anti-CD3/CD28-stimulated CD4(+)CD25(-) T cells and antigen-expanded regulatory T cells.


METHODS
CD4(+)CD25(-) T cells were activated with coated anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 and cultured in the presence or absence of various concentrations of A. princeps extract. The cultures were pulsed on Day 6 with [(3)H]thymidine and, after harvesting the cells, [(3)H]thymidine incorporation was measured. For analysis of interleukin-2 and interferon-gamma secreted from CD4(+)CD25(-) T cells, culture supernatants were collected on Days 2 and 6. For the analysis of interleukin-10 secreted from the CD4(+)CD25(-) T cells and expanded regulatory T cells, supernatants were collected after 2 and 7 days, respectively. Cytokine levels were determined using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Potential medicinal components of the A. princeps extract were determined using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.


RESULTS
A. princeps (30 microg/ml) effectively suppressed proliferation of CD4(+)CD25(-) T cells that were stimulated with anti-CD3/CD28 without causing cytotoxicity in spleen cells incubated under conditions lacking antigen stimulation. A. princeps inhibited production of the pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin-2 and interferon-gamma in anti-CD3/CD28-stimulated CD4(+)CD25(-) T cells. Also, the extract slightly increased production of the anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-10 in these cells. In regulatory T cells expanded by anti-CD3/CD28, A. princeps increased production of interleukin-10 and Foxp3.


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that A. princeps may be useful in the treatment of autoimmune diseases and organ transplantation rejection by inhibiting proliferation of inflammatory T cells, suppressing inflammatory processes in antigen-stimulated CD4(+)CD25(-) T cells and increasing activity of expanded regulatory T cells.
Chang
Sung Ho
SH
BK21 Medical Science Education Center and Department of Biochemistry, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Yangsan-city, Gyeongsangnam-do, Korea.
Jung
Eun Jung
EJ
Park
Youn Hee
YH
Lim
Dong Gyun
DG
Ko
Na Young
NY
Choi
Wahn Soo
WS
Her
Erk
E
Kim
Soo Hyun
SH
Choi
Kang Duk
KD
Bae
Jae Ho
JH
Kim
Sun Hee
SH
Kang
Chi Dug
CD
Han
Duck Jong
DJ
Kim
Song Cheol
SC
D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019306:Artemisia / Q000737:chemistry*; D018106:CD28 Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D017252:CD3 Complex / Q000276:immunology; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000276:immunology; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D018106:CD28 Antigens; D017252:CD3 Complex; D007376:Interleukin-2; D010936:Plant Extracts; D007371:Interferon-gamma