Objectives: We evaluated the immune-modulatory effects of Chinese propolis (CP) and its major constituent, caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE), on the cytokine production of anti-CD3 antibody-stimulated mouse spleen cells.
Methods: Mouse spleen cells stimulated by anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody were co-cultured with CP, CAPE, and HC030031, a specific antagonist of the TRPA1 Ca2+-permeable cation channel. Cytokine production was assayed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Interleukin (IL)-2 mRNA expression was examined by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction.
Results: In stimulated spleen cells treated with 1/16,000 CP diluent, IL-2 production was markedly enhanced, while IL-4 and IL-10 productions were not significantly affected. In contrast, interferon (IFN)-γ, IL-6, and IL-17 productions were markedly reduced. These effects of CP were reproduced by the CAPE treatment. A time-course observation demonstrated that, compared to control cells, IL-2 mRNA expression and production were significantly enhanced in the spleen cells stimulated by CAPE; however, IL-2 production was markedly delayed compared to that in the untreated control cells. The enhancement of IL-2 production by CAPE was scarcely alleviated by the addition of HC030031. These effects of CAPE upon IL-2 mRNA production were abolished in spleen cells without anti-CD3 antibody stimulation.
Conclusions: CAPE is an important regulator of CP for cytokine regulation in anti-CD3 antibody-stimulated spleen cells. The agent specifically reduced IFN-γ, IL-6, and IL-17 and slightly enhanced Th2 cytokine production while significantly enhancing IL-2 production at the transcriptional level.
Keywords: Caffeic acid phenethyl ester; IL-2; Propolis; Spleen cells.
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