title: Immunomodulatory effects of epicatechin-(2β→O→7, 4β→8)-ent-epicatechin isolated from Rhododendron spiciferum in vitro.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Many traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) can act as either immunosuppresants or immunostimulants, properties that have lead to their increasing use as immunomodulators in the treatment of disease. Recently, our lab successfully identified a dimer epicatechin-(2β→O → 7, 4β→8)-ent-epicatechin (EEE) from the chloroform extract of Rhododendron spiciferum.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the immunomodulatory effects of EEE in vitro.
  
  
  METHODS
  Splenocytes, peritoneal macrophages and peripheral blood mononuclear cells from BALB/c mice were incubated with different concentrations of EEE.
  
  
  RESULTS
  EEE significantly stimulates splenocyte proliferation when administered either alone or in combination with concanavalin A (Con A), lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and Anti-CD3. EEE enhances the cytotoxicity of natural killer (NK) cells markedly and phagocytic function of macrophage. Moreover, we found that the levels of several helper T1 (Th1) cytokines, including interleukin-2 (IL-2), IL-12, interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) are significantly increased after EEE treatment, while the levels of Th2 cytokine IL-4 and IL-10 are significantly decreased. As a result, the ratio of Th1/Th2 is significantly increased in the presence of EEE. EEE also increased CD4 and CD8 cell populations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results indicate that EEE exhibits immunomodulatory activity and suggests that this compound could be developed as a novel immunotherapeutic agent for treating cancer and other immune-mediated diseases.
authors.affiliation: a Liaoning Medical University College of Animal Husbandry & Veterinary , Jinzhou , Liaoning , People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yingzi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: a Liaoning Medical University College of Animal Husbandry & Veterinary , Jinzhou , Liaoning , People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Chunhua
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: a Liaoning Medical University College of Animal Husbandry & Veterinary , Jinzhou , Liaoning , People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Xiaoping
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.affiliation: a Liaoning Medical University College of Animal Husbandry & Veterinary , Jinzhou , Liaoning , People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Di
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.affiliation: a Liaoning Medical University College of Animal Husbandry & Veterinary , Jinzhou , Liaoning , People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Tiezhong
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zhou
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002392:Catechin / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D029793:Rhododendron; D013154:Spleen / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D007155:Immunologic Factors; D010936:Plant Extracts; D002392:Catechin
keywords: 4β→8)-ent-epicatechin; Epicatechin-(2β→O→7; Rhododendron spiciferum; immunomodulatory effects; in vitro