title: Piperine inhibits cytokine production by human  peripheral blood mononuclear cells.
abstract: Piperine, an amide isolated from Piper species  (Piperaceae), has been reported to exhibit central nervous system depression,  anti-pyretic and anti-inflammatory activity. Immunomodulatory and anti-tumor  activity of piperine has been demonstrated in mouse carcinomas. However, there  is little information available concerning the effect of piperine on humans. We  evaluated the immunopharmacological activity of this compound in human immune  cells. Human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were exposed to  piperine, and cell proliferation was determined by the MTS assay. Piperine  significantly inhibited phytohemagglutinin-stimulated human PBMC proliferation  after exposure for 72 h. This compound inhibited PBMC activity, with an IC(50) of 100.73 ±  11.16 μg/mL. Production of interleukin-2 (IL-2)  and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) was measured using an ELISA assay and RT-PCR.  Piperine inhibited IL-2 and IFN-γ production in the PBMCs. RT-PCR data indicated that  IL-2 and IFN-γ mRNA expression in PBMCs is suppressed by  piperine. This compound significantly inhibited the production of these two  cytokines by activated PBMCs in a dose-dependent manner. In conclusion,  piperine appears to have potential as an immunomodulatory agent for immune  system suppression.
authors.affiliation: Innovation Center for Research and Development of Medical Diagnostic Technology Project, Department of Transfusion Medicine and Clinical Microbiology, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand. siriporn.ch@chula.ac.th
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chuchawankul
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Khorana
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Poovorawan
mesh_terms: D000470:Alkaloids / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D052117:Benzodioxoles / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins / Q000276:immunology; D010880:Piperidines / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D053284:Polyunsaturated Alkamides / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000470:Alkaloids; D052117:Benzodioxoles; D016207:Cytokines; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D007376:Interleukin-2; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D010880:Piperidines; D053284:Polyunsaturated Alkamides; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D007371:Interferon-gamma; C008922:piperine