title: Anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory mechanisms of artemisinin on contact hypersensitivity.
abstract: Artemisinin (Art) is a sesquiterpene trioxane lactone from Artemisia annua L., which has been shown to affect immune responses. However, the underlying mechanism remains elusive. In this study, we examined the anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects of Art in a mouse model of contact hypersensitivity (CHS), a T-cell-mediated cutaneous inflammatory reaction. The data showed that topical administration of Art could suppress CHS response and Con A-induced T cell proliferation effectively. Further experiments indicated that Art induced the generation of regulatory T cells (Tregs) and impaired the phosphorylation of AKT, associated with the up-regulation of p38 MAPK activation. Moreover, Art also exerted a strikingly inhibitory effect on IL-17 production, and diminished the level of IL-6 paralleled with an enhancement of TGF-β, which effects were coupled with a significant reduction of STAT3 activation. These data reveal that Art could effectively block CHS response in mice by inducing the generation of Tregs and suppressing the development of Th17, indicating the potential of Art to be applied as an effective therapeutic agent for treating immune-related diseases.
authors: Department of Immunology, Medical College of the Chinese People's Armed Police Force, Tianjin, People's Republic of China. tanli20042001@yahoo.com.cn
authors: Tan
authors: T
authors: Li
authors: Hong
authors: H
authors: Chen
authors: Na
authors: N
authors: Wei
authors: Xin
authors: X
authors: Mei
authors: Shi
authors: S
authors: Zhang
authors: Dai-lin
authors: DL
authors: Liu
authors: Ying
authors: Y
authors: Gao
authors: Shu-fang
authors: SF
authors: Bai
authors: Xiao-guang
authors: XG
authors: Liu
authors: Ya-xun
authors: YX
authors: Zhou
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D037621:Artemisinins / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003208:Concanavalin A / Q000494:pharmacology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology; D003877:Dermatitis, Contact / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology; D004139:Dinitrofluorobenzene; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007509:Irritants; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008934:Mitogens / Q000494:pharmacology; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D008517:Phytotherapy; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D058504:Th17 Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D037621:Artemisinins; D016207:Cytokines; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D007509:Irritants; D008934:Mitogens; D003208:Concanavalin A; C031327:artemisinin; D004139:Dinitrofluorobenzene