Effect of tacrolimus on maturity and allostimulatory activity of cultured dendritic cells of rats in vitro / 中国药理学与毒理学杂志

ABSTRACT

AIM To explore the effect of tacrolimus on maturity and allostimulatory activity of cultured dendritic cells (DC) in vitro. METHODS Twenty rats were randomly divided into 4 groups control, tacrolimus, LPS, and tacrolimus+LPS groups. The bone marrow cells of rats were cultured with granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factors and interleukin-4 (IL-4) for 6 d and the DC which adhered to the wall were harvested. No other extraneous reagents were used in control group. Tacrolimus 10 μg·L-1 was added to tacrolimus group at the beginning of culture. Lipopolysaccarides (LPS) 100 μg·L-1 were administered 18 h beforeharvest in LPS group. In tacrolimus+LPS group, tacrolimus and LPS were used in accordance with tacrolimus and LPS groups. The immunophenotypes of DC were analyzed with flow cytometry and the level of IL-12 secreted by DC was detected by ELISA. The allostimulatory activity of DC on allogeneic T cells was assessed with mixed lymphocyte reaction. RESULTS Compared with control group, LPS increased CD80 and CD86 expressions, IL-12 secretion and allostimulatory activities of DC. Compared with control and LPS groups, tacrolimus cut down the expressions of CD80 and CD86, decreased the secretion of IL-12 and reduced the allostimulatory activity of cultured DC. CONCLUSION Tacrolimus exerts a negative effect on the maturation and allostimulatory activity of cultured DC in vitro.