title: Humulus scandens exhibits immunosuppressive effects in vitro and in vivo by suppressing CD4(+) T cell activation.
abstract: Humulus scandens, rich in flavonoids, is a traditional Chinese medicine. It is widely used in China to treat tuberculosis, dysentery and chronic colitis. In this study, the major active faction of Humulus scandens (H.S) was prepared. Then, its immunosuppressive effects and underlying mechanisms on T cell activation were investigated in vitro and in vivo. Results showed that H.S significantly inhibited the proliferation of splenocytes induced by concanavalin A, lipopolysaccharides, and mixed-lymphocyte reaction in vitro. Additionally, H.S could dramatically suppress the proliferation and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) production from T cells stimulated by anti-CD3 and anti-CD28. Flow cytometric results confirmed that H.S could suppress the differentiation of IFN-γ-producing type 1 helper T cells (Th1). Furthermore, using ovalbumin immunization-induced T cell reaction and CD4(+) T-cell-mediated delayed type hypersensitivity reaction, H.S the immunosuppressive effects of H.S was also demonstrated in vivo. Western blot results showed that H.S could impede the activation of both Erk1/2 and P38 in primary T cells triggered by anti-CD3/28. Collectively, the active fraction of H.S showed promising immunosuppressive activities both in vitro and in vivo.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Immunology and Virology, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Jinjin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Yingchun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Weiqi
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Shaoping
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Yiming
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yifu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018106:CD28 Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D017252:CD3 Complex / Q000276:immunology; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003208:Concanavalin A / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D027582:Humulus; D006968:Hypersensitivity, Delayed / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D010047:Ovalbumin / Q000276:immunology; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D018106:CD28 Antigens; D017252:CD3 Complex; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D010936:Plant Extracts; D003208:Concanavalin A; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D010047:Ovalbumin
keywords: Humulus scandens; Immunosuppressive Activity; Interferon-γ; Proliferation; T Cell