Immunomodulatory effects of licochalcone A on experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. (22nd January 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Fontes, Lívia Beatriz Almeida; dos, Débora; de, Lara Soares Aleixo; Mesquita, Harleson Lopes; da, Lívia; Dias, Alyria Teixeira; Da Silva Filho, Ademar A.; do, José Otávio
• Is Part Of: Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology. Volume 66:Number 6(2014:Jun.)
• Page Start: 886
• Page End: 894
• Publication Date: 2014-01-22
• Subjects: Pharmacy -- Periodicals; Pharmacology -- Periodicals; 615.1
• DOI: 10.1111/jphp.12212
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-3573

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title>Abstract</title> <sec id="jphp12212-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Objectives</title> <p>Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is a murine autoimmune disease used to study multiple sclerosis. Herein, we have investigated the immunomodulatory effect of licochalcone A (LicoA) on NO, H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>, tumour necrosis factor‐alpha (TNF‐α), interferon gamma (IFN‐γ) and IL‐17 production in cultured cells from EAE mice.</p> </sec> <sec id="jphp12212-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>EAE was induced in C57Bl/6 mice with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein peptide (MOG<sub>35–55</sub>). LicoA was isolated from the roots of <italic>G</italic><italic>lycyrrhiza inflata</italic>. Splenocytes were obtained from EAE mice and incubated with LicoA (4, 20 and 40 μ<sc>m</sc>). Peritoneal cells were obtained from EAE mice treated with LicoA (15 and 30 mg/kg/day. p.o.). H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>, NO, IFN‐γ, TNF‐α and IL‐17 production was determined in the presence or absence of concanavalin (ConA) or MOG<sub>35–55</sub> stimulation.</p> </sec> <sec id="jphp12212-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Key findings</title> <p>LicoA (40 μ<sc>m</sc>) inhibited H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>, NO, IFN‐γ, TNF‐α and IL‐17 production in splenocytes spontaneously or after both ConA and MOG<sub>35–55</sub> stimulation. LicoA (30 mg/kg/day) reduced clinical score and severity of EAE mice, and inhibited TNF‐α, IFN‐γ and IL‐17 production in peritoneal cells.</p> </sec> <sec id="jphp12212-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusions</title> <p>LicoA possesses immunomodulatory effects on H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>, NO, IFN‐γ, TNF‐α and IL‐17 production in cells from EAE mice. It is suggested that LicoA acts on the mechanism of development of EAE by IFN‐γ, IL‐17 and TNF‐α inhibition, modulating the immune response on both Th1 and Th17 cells.</p> </sec> </abstract>