title: Ursolic acid inhibits T-cell activation through modulating nuclear factor-κ B signaling.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effects of ursolic acid (UA) on T-cell proliferation and activation, as well as to examine its effect on nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling pathway in T cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  T-cells isolated from BALB/c mice were incubated with UA at concentrations ranging from 5-30 μmol/L in the presence of phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) or PMA plus ionomycin. The proliferation of T cells was measured by the MTT assay. The expressions of CD69, CD25, and CD71 on T-cell surface were analyzed using flow cytometry. The level of interleukin-2 (IL-2) in the culture supernatant of activated T cells was quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The level of phosphorylated IκB-α (p-IκB-α) in total protein and p65, a subunit of NF-κB, nuclear translocation were measured by Western blot analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  UA in a dose-dependent manner significantly decreased the proliferation and inhibited the surface expressions of CD69, CD25, and CD71 in murine T lymphocytes upon in vitro activation (P<0.01). Significant reduction of IL-2 production was found in activated T cells treated with UA (P<0.01). The PMA-induced increase in p-IκB-α protein was inhibited, and nuclear translocation of p65 from the cytoplasm was blocked by UA.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  UA is a potent inhibitor for T cell activation and proliferation; these effects are associated with the inhibition of NF-κB signaling pathway.
authors: Institute of Integrative Medicine, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, China.
authors: Guang
authors: G
authors: Zeng
authors: Jiang
authors: J
authors: Chen
authors: Qing-Hua
authors: QH
authors: Liang
authors: Wan-Hui
authors: WH
authors: You
authors: Han-Jun
authors: HJ
authors: Wu
authors: Xin-Gui
authors: XG
authors: Xiong
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D020672:I-kappa B Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D015759:Ionomycin / Q000494:pharmacology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D000072000:NF-KappaB Inhibitor alpha; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism*; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D021381:Protein Transport / Q000187:drug effects; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate / Q000494:pharmacology; D014315:Triterpenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000097245:Ursolic Acid
chemical_list: D020672:I-kappa B Proteins; D007376:Interleukin-2; D015759:Ionomycin; D000072000:NF-KappaB Inhibitor alpha; D016328:NF-kappa B; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate; D014315:Triterpenes; D000097245:Ursolic Acid; C000606205:Nfkbia protein, mouse