Effects of the immune-inhibitory active component of traditional Chinese medicine on murine BMDCs

Objective To investigate the effects of the acetoacetate active component of Hubei ethnodrug Honghuoma on differentiation and function of bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BM-DCs) in vitro.Methods BM-DCs were cultured in the medium containing rGM-CSF and rIL-4,with 20 mg/L ace- toacetate extracts of Honghuoma.The immunophenotype of DCs in control and treated groups was analyzed by flow cytometry.The stimulatory activity of DCs on allogeneic T cells was tested by mixed lymphocyte re- action (MLR).IL-12p70 production in culture supematant was examined by ELISA assay.Rusults Treatment with the acetcacetatc active component of Honghunma markedly inhibited the expression of DCs surface antigen MHCⅡand costimulatory molecule CD86,and the secretion of IL-12p70 from DCs was de- creased by the active component of Honghuoma as well.The treated DCs exhibited low stimulatory activity on allogeneic T cells when co-cultured at various rate of DC/T.Conclusion The acetoacetate active com- ponent of Honghuoma caused routine BM-DCs immaturity and exerted a negative effect on the immunologic functions of DCs in vitro.