Ursolic acid inhibits T-cell activation through modulating nuclear factor-? B signaling.

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Ursolic acid inhibits T-cell activation through modulating nuclear factor-? B signaling.

Chin J Integr Med. 2012 Jan;18(1):34-9

Authors: Zeng G, Chen J, Liang QH, You WH, Wu HJ, Xiong XG

Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of ursolic acid (UA) on T-cell proliferation and activation, as well as to examine its effect on nuclear factor-?B (NF-?B) signaling pathway in T cells.
METHODS: T-cells isolated from BALB/c mice were incubated with UA at concentrations ranging from 5-30 ?mol/L in the presence of phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) or PMA plus ionomycin. The proliferation of T cells was measured by the MTT assay. The expressions of CD69, CD25, and CD71 on T-cell surface were analyzed using flow cytometry. The level of interleukin-2 (IL-2) in the culture supernatant of activated T cells was quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The level of phosphorylated I?B-? (p-I?B-?) in total protein and p65, a subunit of NF-?B, nuclear translocation were measured by Western blot analysis.
RESULTS: UA in a dose-dependent manner significantly decreased the proliferation and inhibited the surface expressions of CD69, CD25, and CD71 in murine T lymphocytes upon in vitro activation (P<0.01). Significant reduction of IL-2 production was found in activated T cells treated with UA (P<0.01). The PMA-induced increase in p-I?B-? protein was inhibited, and nuclear translocation of p65 from the cytoplasm was blocked by UA.
CONCLUSION: UA is a potent inhibitor for T cell activation and proliferation; these effects are associated with the inhibition of NF-?B signaling pathway.

PMID: 21994027 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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