title: A natural flavonoid glucoside icariin inhibits Th1 and Th17 cell differentiation and ameliorates experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis.
abstract: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease that is characterized by recurrent episodes of T cell-mediated immune attack on central nervous system (CNS) myelin, leading to axon damage and progressive disability. Icariin, a natural flavonoid glucoside isolated from plants in the Epimedium family, has been proved to have various pharmacological activities. However, the effect of icariin on experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) has never been investigated. In our current study, we found that icariin treatment leads to alleviated inflammatory infiltration and reduced blood-brain barrier leakage (BBB) of the paracellular tracer (FITC-dextran) in EAE. Mice that received icariin-treated T cells also displayed lower EAE scores and better clinical recovery from EAE. Icariin administration suppresses the frequencies of Th1 and Th17 cells in the splenocytes and lymph node cells. Icariin-treated mice also show lower frequency of Th17 cells in CNS mononuclear cells. The effect of icariin on Th1 and Th17 cell differentiation may be mediated via modulation of dendritic cells (DCs). Furthermore, icariin suppresses the proliferation of T cells and the differentiation of Th1 and Th17 cells in vitro. In conclusion, icariin ameliorates EAE and this was associated with suppressed Th1 and Th17 cell differentiation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, China; Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Science and Technology, China. Electronic address: ruilshen@126.com.
authors.forename: Ruile
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, China.
authors.forename: Wenjing
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, China.
authors.forename: Chun
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Science and Technology, China.
authors.forename: Guangwei
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zeng
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001812:Blood-Brain Barrier / Q000187:drug effects; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004681:Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy*; D034181:Epimedium / Q000276:immunology; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D058504:Th17 Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D005419:Flavonoids; C056599:icariin
keywords: EAE; Icariin; Th1 cells; Th17 cells