title: Silymarin suppress CD4+ T cell activation and proliferation: effects on NF-kappaB activity and IL-2 production.
abstract: Silymarin, a mixture of bioactive flavonolignans isolated from Silybum marianum, exhibits anti-carcinogenic, anti-inflammatory and cytoprotective effects. In this study, the in vitro immunomodulatory activity of silymarin was investigated using CD4+ splenocytes from C57/Bl6 mice. Proliferation assay revealed that silymarin, at 50 microM concentration, significantly inhibited CD4+ cells proliferation. ELISA analyses indicated that silymarin significantly inhibited IL-2 and IFN-gamma production. Immunofluorescence staining performed on the mouse hybridoma T cell line (3DO) revealed a block of nuclear translocation of transcription factor kappaB (NF-kappaB), which is known to be responsible for IL-2 transcriptional activation. Moreover, silymarin inhibited p65/NF-kappaB phosphorylation in CD4+ T cell. These results suggest that silymarin is able to inhibit T cell activation and proliferation, notably acting on pathways of NF-kappaB activation/translocation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Marjan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gharagozloo
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Velardi
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bruscoli
authors.forename: Massimiliano
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Agostini
authors.forename: Moises
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Di Sante
authors.forename: Valerio
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Donato
authors.forename: Zahra
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Amirghofran
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Riccardi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017304:Annexin A5; D001711:Biotransformation / Q000187:drug effects; D015153:Blotting, Western; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects*; D016923:Cell Death / Q000187:drug effects; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism*; D021381:Protein Transport / Q000187:drug effects; D012838:Silymarin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology; D051996:Transcription Factor RelA / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D017304:Annexin A5; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D007376:Interleukin-2; D016328:NF-kappa B; D012838:Silymarin; D051996:Transcription Factor RelA