Immunosuppressive potential of bardoxolone methyl using a modified murine local lymph node assay (LLNA)

J Toxicol Sci. 2014 Aug;39(4):545-50. doi: 10.2131/jts.39.545.

Abstract

2-Cyano-3, 12-dioxooleana-1, 9-dien-28-oic acid methyl ester (CDDO-Me; bardoxolone methyl) is one of the synthetic oleanane triterpenoids (SOs). It is known that it is the strongest Nrf2/ARE signaling inducer of SOs and slightly inhibits immune response. Little was known about the immunomodulatory action of CDDO-Me in vivo. We assessed its immunosuppressive potential by using the modified mouse lymph node assay (LLNA) including immunosuppression-related gene expression analysis. In the modified LLNA, CDDO-Me showed a significant decrease in lymph node weight and changes in expressions of the immunosuppression-related genes, Zfp459 and Fmo2. It has been already reported that a decrease in lymph node weight was induced by several types of immunosuppressive chemicals such as calcineurin inhibitors, antimetabolites, steroids, and alkylators. In addition, changes in Zfp459 and Fmo2 expression was reported in response after only treatment of antimetabolites. From these results, CDDO-Me is considered to have an immunosuppressive action and similar mechanism to antimetabolites.

Publication types

  • Letter

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antimetabolites
  • Female
  • Gene Expression / drug effects
  • Immune Tolerance / genetics
  • Immunosuppressive Agents*
  • Local Lymph Node Assay*
  • Lymph Nodes / drug effects
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Oleanolic Acid / analogs & derivatives*
  • Oleanolic Acid / pharmacology
  • Organ Size / drug effects
  • Oxygenases

Substances

  • Antimetabolites
  • Immunosuppressive Agents
  • Oleanolic Acid
  • bardoxolone methyl
  • Oxygenases
  • dimethylaniline monooxygenase (N-oxide forming)