Epicubenol and Ferruginol induce DC from human monocytes and differentiate IL-10-producing regulatory T cells in vitro

Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2005 Nov 18;337(2):730-8. doi: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2005.09.110. Epub 2005 Sep 26.

Abstract

Epicubenol and 19-hydroxyferruginol (Ferruginol) are sesquiterpenes isolated from the black heartwood of Cryptomeria japonica. Dendritic cells (DC) are specialized antigen-presenting cells that monitor the antigenic environment and activate naïve T cells. The role of DC is not only to sense danger but also to tolerize the immune system to antigens encountered in the absence of maturation/inflammatory stimuli. In this study, we attempted to investigate the effects of Epicubenol and Ferruginol on the phenotypic and functional maturation of human monocytes-derived DC in vitro. Human monocytes were cultured with GM-CSF and IL-4 for 6 days under standard conditions, followed by another 2 days with Epicubenol or Ferruginol. The expression levels of CD1a, CD83, and HLA-DR as expressed by mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) on Epicubenol-primed DC or Ferruginol-primed DC were enhanced. Allogeneic Epicubenol-primed DC or Ferruginol-primed DC co-cultured with naïve T cells at 1:5 ratio, secreted IL-10 and TGF-beta, but little IL-4. Moreover, T cells that develop in co-culture of Epicubenol-primed DC or Ferruginol-primed DC and naïve T cells at 1:5 ratio suppressed the proliferation of autologous T cells at Treg cells: Ttarget cells and this suppression of proliferation was inhibited by anti-IL-10 mAb. The expression of FoxP3 mRNA on T cells that develop in co-culture of Epicubenol-primed DC or Ferruginol-primed DC and naïve T cells was lower. From these results, Epicubenol and Ferruginol may induce IL-10-producing Treg 1 cells from naïve T cells by modulating DC function. It seems that Epicubenol and Ferruginol appear to be a target for tolerance after transplantation and in autoimmune diseases.

MeSH terms

  • Abietanes
  • Antigens, CD / metabolism
  • Antigens, CD1 / metabolism
  • CD83 Antigen
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Dendritic Cells / drug effects*
  • Dendritic Cells / metabolism
  • Diterpenes / pharmacology*
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / pharmacology
  • HLA-DR Antigens / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulins / metabolism
  • Interleukin-10 / metabolism*
  • Interleukin-4 / metabolism
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / metabolism
  • Monocytes / cytology
  • Monocytes / drug effects*
  • Phenotype
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • Sesquiterpenes / pharmacology*
  • T-Lymphocytes / metabolism*
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta / genetics

Substances

  • Abietanes
  • Antigens, CD
  • Antigens, CD1
  • CD1a antigen
  • Diterpenes
  • FOXP3 protein, human
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors
  • HLA-DR Antigens
  • Immunoglobulins
  • Membrane Glycoproteins
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Sesquiterpenes
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta
  • epicubenol
  • ferruginol
  • Interleukin-10
  • Interleukin-4
  • Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor