title: Emodin inhibits splenocyte proliferation and inflammation by modulating cytokine responses in a mouse model system.
abstract: Emodin, an anthraquinone derivative, was investigated for potential anti-inflammatory and anti-proliferative effects in vitro. The potential to induce these outcomes was assessed using concanavalin A (ConA)-stimulated mouse splenocytes. Dose-response studies showed that emodin at 100 µM was not cytotoxic to naive cells, and that the same dose caused proliferation to be significantly reduced in ConA-stimulated cells. In addition, emodin significantly reduced ConA-induced nitric oxide (NO) production and the formation/release of TH1 (IL-2, IFNγ, TNFα) and TH17 (IL-6 and IL-17) cell cytokines, but induced those of TH2 (IL-4) and Treg (IL-10) cells. From the results, it is concluded that earlier-reported immunomodulatory effects imparted by emodin may have been attributable, in part, to anti-proliferative effects on lymphocytes, as well as a shift within the TH1/TH2 and TH17/Treg balance (towards TH2 and Treg). These findings, while providing evidence of mechanisms of emodin immunomodulation, are also potentially important for sparking studies that ultimately may result in the potential use of this agent in preventive and/or corrective strategies against autoimmune and other inflammatory diseases.
authors.affiliation: a School of Life Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University , New Delhi , India.
authors.forename: Rahul
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.affiliation: a School of Life Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University , New Delhi , India.
authors.forename: Ashu Bhan
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Tiku
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D002400:Cathartics / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004642:Emodin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D056747:Immunomodulation; D007249:Inflammation / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D013154:Spleen / Q000473:pathology; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*; D058408:Th1-Th2 Balance / Q000187:drug effects; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D002400:Cathartics; D016207:Cytokines; D004642:Emodin
keywords: Cell cycle; concanavalin A; cytokines; emodin; nitric oxide; splenocytes