Brazilian propolis inhibits the differentiation of Th17 cells by inhibition of interleukin-6-induced phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3.
Propolis is a resinous substance collected by honeybees from leaf buds and cracks in the bark of various plants. It has been reported to show immunomodulatory activity. Previously, we reported the protective effect of Brazilian propolis ethanolic extract against the pathogenesis of collagen-induced arthritis (CIA), an experimental animal model of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Moreover, we found that the protective effect against CIA was involved in suppression of the production of interleukin-17 (IL-17) in CIA mice. In the present study, we demonstrated for the first time that propolis inhibited IL-6 plus transforming growth factor-β induced Th17 differentiation in vitro. Propolis also suppressed the IL-6-induced phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), a cytokine-activated essential transcription factor in Th17 development, concomitantly with the enhanced suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 expression involved in the downregulation of STAT3 phosphorylation. These data suggest that the suppressive effect of propolis on Th17 differentiation might be useful for controlling unbalanced cytokine networks in autoimmune diseases.
Laboratory of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Chiba Institute of Science, Choshi, Chiba, Japan. yokamoto@cis.ac.jp
Yoshihiro
Y
Okamoto
Mayuri
M
Tanaka
Takashi
T
Fukui
Toshiyuki
T
Masuzawa
D000818:Animals; D001169:Arthritis, Experimental / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D001516:Bees; D001938:Brazil; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D011429:Propolis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor / Q000276:immunology*; D058504:Th17 Cells / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology
D015850:Interleukin-6; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor; C494087:Stat3 protein, mouse; D011429:Propolis