title: Inhibitory effect of cepharanthine on dendritic cell activation and function.
abstract: Dendritic cells (DCs) are specialized antigen presenting cells that connect innate and adaptive immunity. DCs are considered as a major target for controlling excessive immune responses. In this study, the effect of cepharanthine (CEP), a biscoclaurine alkaloid isolated from Stephania cepharantha Hayata, on murine DCs was examined in vitro. CEP inhibited antigen uptake by DCs at a concentration between 1 and 5 μg/ml. Although CEP did not inhibit the expression of costimulatory molecules and major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I in DCs, the compound inhibited lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced DC maturation determined by the expression of costimulatory molecules and MHC class I. In addition, CEP could reduce the production of interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α in LPS-stimulated DCs. DCs treated with CEP were found to be a poor stimulator of allogeneic T cell proliferation and interferon-γ production from the cells. These results suggest that CEP may have great potential as an immunoregulatory agent against various autoimmune diseases and allergy.
authors.affiliation: Division of Antiviral Chemotherapy, Center for Chronic Viral Diseases, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima University, 8-35-1 Sakuragaoka, Kagoshima 890-8544, Japan.
authors.forename: Tomofumi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Uto
authors.forename: Yosuke
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nishi
authors.forename: Masaaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Toyama
authors.forename: Keisuke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yoshinaga
authors.forename: Masanori
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Baba
mesh_terms: D056704:Adaptive Immunity / Q000187:drug effects; D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D044182:Benzylisoquinolines / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004705:Endocytosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D016650:Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate / Q000737:chemistry; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000187:drug effects; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology; D008285:Major Histocompatibility Complex / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D010047:Ovalbumin / Q000276:immunology; D031607:Stephania / Q000737:chemistry; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D052117:Benzodioxoles
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D015703:Antigens, CD; D044182:Benzylisoquinolines; D016207:Cytokines; D016650:Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D010047:Ovalbumin; C006947:cepharanthine; D052117:Benzodioxoles