title: A low-molecular-weight dialysable leukocyte extract selectively enhances development of CD4⁺RORγt⁺ T cells and IL-17 production.
abstract: A low-molecular-weight (under 10 kDa) dialysable leukocyte extract (called transfer factor, TF) has been shown to be a prospective substance to improve or modulate immune response in autoimmunity, inflammation, infectious diseases or cancers. However, the use of TF has been limited by the absence of any data on the mechanism of its action. Here we show that TF prepared from peripheral blood leukocytes of healthy human donors displays multiple regulatory effects on individual parameters of the immune system. TF decreases proliferation of T and B lymphocytes and partially alters the production of cytokines and nitric oxide by activated macrophages. TF also inhibits production of T helper 1 (Th1) cytokines interleukin 2 (IL-2) and interferon γ, slightly stimulates production of Th2 cytokine IL-10 and considerably enhances the secretion of IL-17 by activated mouse spleen T cells. At the molecular level, TF enhances expression of genes for transcription factor RORγt and for IL-17. The enhanced expression of the RORgt gene corresponds with an increase in the number of RORγt⁺CD4⁺ Th17 cells and with enhanced IL-17 production. In contrast, the expression of the Foxp3 gene and the proportion of CD4⁺CD25⁺Foxp3⁺ regulatory T cells are not significantly changed in the presence of TF. These results suggest that the activation of pro-inflammatory Th17 cells, which have multiple immunoregulatory properties, could be the main mechanism of the immunomodulatory action of a low-molecular-weight leukocyte extract.
authors: Department of Transplantation Immunology, Institute of Experimental Medicine, AS CR, v. v. i., Prague, Czech Republic.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Zajícová
authors: Department of Transplantation Immunology, Institute of Experimental Medicine, AS CR, v. v. i., Prague, Czech Republic.
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Javorková
authors: Department of Transplantation Immunology, Institute of Experimental Medicine, AS CR, v. v. i., Prague, Czech Republic.
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Trošan
authors: Department of Transplantation Immunology, Institute of Experimental Medicine, AS CR, v. v. i., Prague, Czech Republic.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Chudíčková
authors: Department of Transplantation Immunology, Institute of Experimental Medicine, AS CR, v. v. i., Prague, Czech Republic.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Krulová
authors: Department of Transplantation Immunology, Institute of Experimental Medicine, AS CR, v. v. i., Prague, Czech Republic.
authors: V
authors: V
authors: Holáň
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003208:Concanavalin A / Q000494:pharmacology; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D007378:Interleukins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D017737:Macrophages, Peritoneal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008970:Molecular Weight; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000096:biosynthesis; D057132:Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 1, Group F, Member 3 / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology; D014165:Transfer Factor / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; C498833:Foxp3 protein, mouse; D020381:Interleukin-17; D007378:Interleukins; D057132:Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 1, Group F, Member 3; D014165:Transfer Factor; D003208:Concanavalin A; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D007371:Interferon-gamma