title: Immunosuppressive effect of Cordyceps CS-4 on human monocyte-derived dendritic cells in vitro.
abstract: Cordyceps CS-4 (C.CS-4), a vegetative form of Cordyceps that contains the same active compounds as the fruit body, is widely used as a substitute of Cordyceps in China. A number of studies have shown that Cordyceps can positively stimulate the activation of T lymphocytes, B lymphocytes, natural killer cells, and macrophages. In our previous study, we found that C.CS-4 could inhibit the proliferation of CD4+ T cells in autoimmune diseases and prevent the lymphocyte infiltration in tissues. However, it is still unclear how the lymphocytes are regulated by C.CS-4. In this study, we investigate the effect of C.CS-4 on human monocyte-derived dendritic cells (Mo-DCs), which are generated from PBMCs by the treatment with GM-CSF and IL-4. It is observed that Mo-DCs pretreated with C.CS-4 show an immature phenotype. Moreover, C.CS-4 significantly inhibits proliferation of CD4+ T cells, attenuates the production of cytokines in Mo-DCs and balances the Th1 and Th2 response in immune system. Our findings indicate that C.CS-4 exerts the immunosuppressive effect through inhibiting the CD4+ T cells proliferation, regulating cytokine secretions of Th1 and Th2 response (Mo-DCs) and inducing phenotypic immature of Mo-DCs which may be related to the antigen presenting dysfunction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Shanghai First People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200080, China.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.forename: Gaolin
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects*; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D032661:Cordyceps; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000494:pharmacology; D009000:Monocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D058408:Th1-Th2 Balance / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D015704:CD4 Antigens; D016207:Cytokines; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D015847:Interleukin-4; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor