title: Cryptotanshinone and tanshinone IIA enhance IL-15-induced natural killer cell differentiation.
abstract: Natural killer (NK) cells are a subset of lymphocytes crucial for innate and adaptive immune responses. Here we show a stimulatory effect of cryptotanshinone (CTS) and tanshinone IIA (TS), isolated from Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge, on the differentiation of NK cells. In the presence of IL-15, tanshinones increased NK cell maturation, NK cell differentiation and the expression of several transcription factors, including Id2, GATA3, T-bet, and Ets-1. Additionally, tanshinones increased p38 MAPK phosphorylation during NK cell differentiation. Furthermore, the p38 inhibitor SB203580 blocked the developmental effects of the tanshinones and suppressed Id2, T-bet, and Ets-1 expression during NK cell differentiation. These results suggest that tanshinones significantly increased IL-15-induced NK cell differentiation via enhancing the p38 phosphorylation and the expression of transcription factors.
authors: Immunotherapy Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, 125 Gwahak-ro, Yoosunggu, Daejeon 305-600, Republic of Korea.
authors: Won Sam
authors: WS
authors: Kim
authors: Dong Oh
authors: DO
authors: Kim
authors: Sung Jin
authors: SJ
authors: Yoon
authors: Mi Jeong
authors: MJ
authors: Kim
authors: Suk Ran
authors: SR
authors: Yoon
authors: Young-Jun
authors: YJ
authors: Park
authors: Haiyoung
authors: H
authors: Jung
authors: Tae-Don
authors: TD
authors: Kim
authors: Byoung-Mog
authors: BM
authors: Kwon
authors: Inpyo
authors: I
authors: Choi
mesh_terms: D045784:Abietanes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D019409:Interleukin-15 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D010616:Phenanthrenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010766:Phosphorylation; D011725:Pyridines / Q000494:pharmacology; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D045784:Abietanes; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D007093:Imidazoles; D019409:Interleukin-15; D010616:Phenanthrenes; D011725:Pyridines; D014157:Transcription Factors; C021751:tanshinone; C037886:cryptotanshinone; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; C093642:SB 203580