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Planta Med 2010; 76(13): 1424-1430
DOI: 10.1055/s-0029-1240909
Pharmacology
Original Papers
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Tetrandrine Attenuates Dendritic Cell-mediated Alloimmune Responses and Prolongs Graft Survival in Mice

Yun Chen1 , 2 , 3 , Hong-Shiee Lai2 [*] , Bor-Luen Chiang4 , 5 , 6 , Sheng-Hong Tseng2 [*] , Wei-Jao Chen2
  • 1Department of Surgery, Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
  • 2Department of Surgery, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
  • 3Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Yuan Ze University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
  • 4Department of Pediatrics, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
  • 5Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
  • 6Graduate Institute of Immunology, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
Further Information

Publication History

received August 14, 2009 revised January 23, 2010

accepted January 27, 2010

Publication Date:
25 February 2010 (online)

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Abstract

Tetrandrine, a bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloid, has significant immunosuppressive effects; however, the effects of tetrandrine on dendritic cells (DCs) and the associated immune reactions are unclear. In this study, we investigated the effects of tetrandrine on DCs and the effects of the tetrandrine-treated DCs on alloimmune reactions in vitro and graft survival in vivo. Tetrandrine significantly downregulated the expression of CD80 and CD86 of DCs and increased their secretion of IL-10 (p = 0.0001). Mixed leukocyte reaction showed that tetrandrine inhibited dendritic-cell allo-stimulatory activity, which was reversed by the anti-IL-10 treatment. An in vivo study demonstrated that tetrandrine-treated DCs prolonged the survival time of skin grafts in mice compared to control (p = 0.005) and decreased cellular infiltration of the graft in the histopathological study. The data suggest that tetrandrine-treated DCs cause immunosuppression and protect skin grafts from rejection. The tetrandrine-induced immunosuppression seems to be partially due to increased IL-10 secretion.

Key words

tetrandrine - Stephania tetrandra S. Moore - Menispermaceae - dendritic cells - transplantation - alloimmune response

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1 Both authors contributed equally to this work.

Dr. Sheng-Hong Tseng

Department of Surgery
National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine

7 Chung-Shan S. Rd.

Taipei 100

Taiwan

Phone: + 88 62 23 12 34 56, ext. 6 51 10

Fax: + 88 62 89 66 55 67

Email: tsh5110@ntu.edu.tw

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