title: Indirubin Increases CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ Regulatory T Cells to Prevent Immune Thrombocytopenia in Mice.
abstract: Indirubin, a traditional Chinese medicine, is used to treat autoimmune diseases in clinics. However, the effects of indirubin on the immunosuppressive CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ regulatory T cells (Treg) have not been addressed. Thus, we aimed to investigate the effects of indirubin on CD4+CD25+Treg cells in immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) CBA mice, which were established by immunization with Wistar rat platelets. 50 mg/kg indirubin treatment daily for 4 weeks significantly decreased anti-platelet antibody production and prevented the decrease of platelets caused by immunization in ITP mice. Consistently, indirubin significantly enhanced the percentage and cell number of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+Treg cells in the peripheral blood, spleen and lymph nodes. We also observed a significant increase of the frequency and cell number of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+Treg cells in the thymus upon indirubin treatment. Furthermore, CD4+CD25+Treg cells from indirubin-treated mice showed similar immunosuppression on T effector cells as compared to those from control mice. Altogether, indirubin ameliorates ITP by enhancing CD4+CD25+Foxp3+Treg cell level with preserving immunosuppressive function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, China.
authors.forename: Aijun
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic, Jinan Central Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, China.
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ning
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, China.
authors.forename: Nianzheng
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic, Jinan Central Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, China.
authors.forename: Jianlu
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, China.
authors.forename: Xiuli
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ju
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000737:chemistry; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000737:chemistry; D007211:Indoles / Q000627:therapeutic use; D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit / Q000378:metabolism; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008808:Mice, Inbred CBA; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D016553:Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000166:cytology*
chemical_list: D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; C498833:Foxp3 protein, mouse; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D007211:Indoles; D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit; C027185:indirubin