Effects of Forskolin on activation and proliferation of the murine T lymphocytes in vitro

Investigating the effects of Forskolin on activation and proliferation of CD3+T lymphocytes stimulated by ConA in vitro,and the expression of IFN-γ,IL-2,IL-4,IL-10 and TNF-α in these cells in order to elucidate the mechanisms of its immunosuppressive mechanism.Signal cell suspensions were prepared from murine lymph nodes and treated by different concentrations of Forskolin.Fluorescence conjugated monoclonal antibodies and flow cytometry were used to detect the expression of CD25 and CD71 activated by ConA.The cytokines from the cultivated supernatant stimulated by ConA were measured by LuminexTM 100,and the proliferation index of mouse T lymphocytes was analyzed by CFDA-SE staining.The experiment results showed that Forskolin(10-7,10-6,10-5 mol/L) could inhibit the expression rate and mean fluorescence intensity(MFI) of CD25 and CD71 on CD3+T lymphocytes in a dose-dependent manner.Forskolin also could inhibit the level of IL-10,IL-2,TNF-α and T lymphocyte proliferation index stimulated by ConA in a dose-dependent manner while increase the level of IFN-γ but no effects on the production of IL-4.It is evident from the above observation that Forskolin can inhibit the activation and proliferation of T lymphocyte by changing the distribution of cytokines and become a potential immunosupressive agents.