title: Ex vivo effects of flavonoïds extracted from Artemisia herba alba on cytokines and nitric oxide production in Algerian patients with Adamantiades-Behçet's disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Adamantiades-Behçet's disease (ABD) is a chronic multisystemic inflammation with unknown pathophysiology. This disorder is associated with a dysregulation of the cytokine network that hyperactivates neutrophils and macrophages. In this study, we investigate the modulatory effects of flavonoïd compounds extracted from Algerian medicinal plant Artemisia herba alba on Th1 and Th2 cytokines and nitric oxide production.
  
  
  METHODS
  The modulatory effects of flavonoïds extracted from Artemisia herba alba on cytokines and nitric oxide production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells isolated from Algerian ABD patients and healthy controls were respectively measured by means of ELISA assays and Griess modified method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our results show that flavonoïds significantly reduce the production of interleukin-12, the key effector of T helper 1 (Th1) cells and nitric oxide in a dose-dependent manner in Adamantiades-Behçet's disease. In contrast, the production of IL-4, the key marker of Th2 cells was increased.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study suggests that in vitro supplementation with flavonoïds extracted from Artemisia herba alba could have potential immuno-modulatory effects characterised by a down-regulation and up-regulation of Th1 and Th2 cytokines, respectively. Moreover, flavonoïds may prevent nitric oxide induced damages.
authors: Laboratoire de Biologie Cellulaire et Moléculaire (LBCM), FSB, USTHB, Université de Bab-Ezzouar, BP32, 16111, Algiers, Algeria. mdjiji68@hotmail.com.
authors: Djamel
authors: D
authors: Messaoudene
authors: Houda
authors: H
authors: Belguendouz
authors: Mohamed Laid
authors: ML
authors: Ahmedi
authors: Tarek
authors: T
authors: Benabdekader
authors: Fifi
authors: F
authors: Otmani
authors: Malika
authors: M
authors: Terahi
authors: Pierre
authors: P
authors: Youinou
authors: Chafia
authors: C
authors: Touil-Boukoffa