[Immunoregulatory effects of periplocin from Cortex Periplocae in tumor-bearing mice].

AIM: To investigate the immune mechanisms for Periplocin from Cortex Periplocae (CPP) in tumor-bearing mice. METHODS: H(22) tumor-bearing model BALB/c mice were applied to evaluated in vivo immunoregulatory effect of CPP. The influence of different dose CPP (0.25, 0.50 and 1.00 mg/kg) on immune organs in tumor-bearing mice were observed. T cell subsets of mice spleen were detected by flow cytometry. MTT assay was used to determine the influence of CPP on lymphocyte proliferation of mice spleen stimulated by ConA. The levels of TNF-alpha, IL-2 and IL-12 in serum from mice were detected by means of ELISA. RESULTS: Thymus index and spleen index of H(22) tumor-bearing model control mice became less than that of normal mice (P<0.05). Compared to both model and normal control groups, thymus index and spleen index of H(22) tumor-bearing mice treated with CPP increased obviously (P<0.05). CPP had no influence on the number of CD8(+) T cells, but up-regulated markedly the number of CD3(+), CD4(+) T cells and the ratio of CD4(+)/CD8(+) in tumor-bearing mice. In CPP-treated mice, the percentage of CD3(+), CD4(+) T cells were not different from normal mice (P<0.05), the ratio of CD4(+)/CD8(+) was higher than that of normal mice (P<0.05). CPP enhanced obviously lymphocyte proliferation of mice spleen induced by ConA, the SI scores were even higher than that of normal mice. The levels of TNF-alpha, IL-2 and IL-12 in serum from CPP-treated mice, increased significantly compared to model control group (P<0.05) in a dose-dependent manner, were similar to or higher than that of normal mice. CONCLUSION: CPP protected immune organs of tumor-bearing mice, increased obviously the percentage of CD4(+) and CD4(+)/CD8(+) among the T cell line, and enhanced lymphocyte proliferation of mice spleen significantly, stimulated the production of TNF-alpha, IL-2 and IL-12. The results suggested that CPP possessed potent immunoregulatory effect.

[The effect on the differentiation and maturation of dendritic cells by lupane acetate of cortex periplocae].

AIM: To investigate the effect of lupane acetate of cortex periplocae (CPLA) on the differentiation, maturation and immune activity of human peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC)-derived dendritic cells (DCs) in vitro. METHODS: PBMC isolated from human peripheral blood was cultured with GM-CSF, IL-4 for 5 d and stimulated with TNF-alpha (as positive control) or CPLA to induce DCs. The morphological characteristics of DC were observed under inverted microscope and transmisson electron microscope. The expressions of CD1a, CD83, CD80 and CD86 were analyzed by flow cytometry. IL-12, IFN-gamma production in the culture supernatant of DCs was detected by ELISA. MTT method was used to determine the proliferation of T cells stimulated by DCs. RESULTS: After 10-days culture with cytokines and CPLA, PBMC developed into mature DCs with typical morphological characteristics and high expressions of CD1a, CD83, CD80 and CD86 on the cellular surface (P<0.05). CPLA enhanced IL-12 and IFN-gamma production by DCs (P<0.05). CPLA-treated DCs markedly stimulated proliferation of T cells (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: CPLA may induce the differentiation and maturation of DC, up-regulate cytokines production and increase the immune activity of DC.