Jy. Cho et al., Immunomodulatory effect of arctigenin, a lignan compound, on tumour necrosis factor-alpha and nitric oxide production, and lymphocyte proliferation, J PHARM PHA, 51(11), 1999, pp. 1267-1273
We have investigated the immunomodulatory effects of arctigenin, a dibenzyl
butyrolactone lignan compound, on tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and n
itric oxide (NO) production, and lymphocyte proliferation.
Arctigenin inhibited strongly TNF-alpha production by lipopolysaccharide-st
imulated murine macrophage RAW264 . 7 and differentiated human macrophage U
937 with IC50 values of 5 . 0 and 3 . 9 mu M, respectively, without display
ing cytotoxicity. The TNF-alpha inhibitory effect of arctigenin in lipopoly
saccharide-triggered RAW264 . 7 cells was increased by co-treatment with se
veral known TNF-alpha inhibitors. It also potently attenuated T and B cell
proliferation stimulated by concanavalin A and lipopolysaccharide in a dose
-dependent manner with IC50 values of 2 . 9 and 14 . 6 mu M, respectively.
In contrast, the compound showed a different pattern in lipopolysaccharide-
and interferon (IFN)-gamma-induced NO production from RAW264 . 7 cells. Ar
ctigenin inhibited NO release by INF-gamma signal, whereas it significantly
enhanced lipopolysaccharide-triggered NO production in RAW264 . 7 cells.
The results suggested that arctigenin may regulate immune responses in acti
vated macrophages and lymphocytes including TNF-alpha and NO production and
lymphocyte proliferation.