title: Matrine suppresses production of IL-23/IL-17 and ameliorates experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis.
abstract: Matrine (MAT), a quinolizidine alkaloid derived from the herb Radix Sophorae Flave, has been suggested to possess immunomodulatory characteristics; however, whether it is effective in multiple sclerosis (MS), an autoimmune disease of the central nervous system (CNS), is not known. Our aim was to bridge this gap by investigating the possible therapeutic effects of MAT on experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), an animal model of MS. We have found that, compared to the untreated controls, MAT-treated rats showed a significant decrease in clinical scores, in CNS infiltration of inflammatory cells (including CD4(+), CD8(+) T cells and macrophages) and demyelination. Furthermore, serum levels of IL-23 and IL-17 showed a marked reduction after MAT treatment, particularly in rats treated with higher doses of MAT. This study demonstrates that administration of MAT, as a natural compound, might be a novel therapy for autoimmune disorders such as MS.
authors: Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, Henan, China.
authors: Xiaoyu
authors: X
authors: Zhao
authors: Quancheng
authors: Q
authors: Kan
authors: Lin
authors: L
authors: Zhu
authors: Guang-Xian
authors: GX
authors: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000470:Alkaloids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000818:Animals; D004681:Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007887:Fabaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D053759:Interleukin-23 / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011807:Quinolizines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D000093842:Matrines
chemical_list: D000470:Alkaloids; D020381:Interleukin-17; D053759:Interleukin-23; D010936:Plant Extracts; D011807:Quinolizines; D000093842:Matrines