title: Arctigenin from Arctium lappa inhibits interleukin-2 and interferon gene expression in primary human T lymphocytes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Arctium lappa (Niubang), a Chinese herbal medicine, is used to treat tissue inflammation. This study investigates the effects of arctigenin (AC), isolated from A. lappa, on anti-CD3/CD28 Ab-stimulated cell proliferation and cytokine gene expression in primary human T lymphocytes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cell proliferation was determined with enzyme immunoassays and the tritiated thymidine uptake method. Cytokine production and gene expression were analyzed with reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  AC inhibited primary human T lymphocytes proliferation activated by anti-CD3/CD28 Ab. Cell viability test indicated that the inhibitory effects of AC on primary human T lymphocyte proliferation were not due to direct cytotoxicity. AC suppressed interleukin-2 (IL-2) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) production in a concentration-dependent manner. Furthermore, AC decreased the IL-2 and IFN-γ gene expression in primary human T lymphocytes induced by anti-CD3/CD28 Ab. Reporter gene analyses revealed that AC decreased NF-AT-mediated reporter gene expression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  AC inhibited T lymphocyte proliferation and decreased the gene expression of IL-2, IFN-γ and NF-AT.
authors: Institute of Life Science, Fu-Jen University, Taipei, 24205, Taiwan. 021553@mail.fju.edu.tw.
authors: Wei-Jern
authors: WJ
authors: Tsai
authors: Chu-Ting
authors: CT
authors: Chang
authors: Guei-Jane
authors: GJ
authors: Wang
authors: Tzong-Huei
authors: TH
authors: Lee
authors: Shwu-Fen
authors: SF
authors: Chang
authors: Shao-Chun
authors: SC
authors: Lu
authors: Yuh-Chi
authors: YC
authors: Kuo