Icariin promotes differentiation and maturation of cord blood-derived dendritic cells.

Objective:To investigate the in vitro effect of icariin(ICA) on the differentiation,maturation and immune activity of DCs derived from cord blood mononuclear cells.Methods: The mononuclear cells were isolated by density gradient centrifugation from cord blood under axenic condition,and were induced by GM-CSF and IL-4 to differentiate into DCs.The DCs were divided into 3 groups on the fifth day: an ICA group,a TNF-α group and a control group.The morphology of DCs was observed under inverted microscope and transmission election microscope.Expression of CD83,CD80 and CD86 on DCs was examined by flow cytometry.IL-12 and IFN-γ levels in the culture supernatant of DCs were detected by ELISA.The proliferation of T cells stimulated by DCs was determined by MTT assay.Results: Cord blood mononuclear cells derived-DCs had a typical morphological characteristic of mature DCs after stimulation with ICA.Expression of CD1a,CD83,CD80 and CD86 on DCs in ICA group was up-regulated compared with that in control group(P0.05);moreover,CD86 expression on DCs in ICA group was significantly higher than that in TNF-α group(P0.05).IL-12 and IFN-γ production in ICA group and proliferation of T cells induced by DCs in the ICA group were markedly higher than those in the control group(P0.05),and were similar to those in the TNF-α group.Conclusion: ICA can induce differentiation and maturation of DCs derived from cord blood mononuclear cells,and enhances the immune activity of DCs.