Urtica dioica agglutinin, a V beta 8.3-specific superantigen, prevents the development of the systemic lupus erythematosus-like pathology of MRL lpr/lpr mice

A Review of the Potential Benefits of Herbal Medicines, Small Molecules of Natural Sources, and Supplements for Health Promotion in Lupus Conditions

The Latin word lupus, meaning wolf, was in the medical literature prior to the 1200s to describe skin lesions that devour flesh, and the resources available to physicians to help people were limited. The present text reviews the ethnobotanical and pharmacological aspects of medicinal plants and purified molecules from natural sources with efficacy against lupus conditions. Among these molecules are artemisinin and its derivatives, antroquinonol, baicalin, curcumin, emodin, mangiferin, salvianolic acid A, triptolide, the total glycosides of paeony (TGP), and other supplements such as fatty acids and vitamins. In addition, medicinal plants, herbal remedies, mushrooms, and fungi that have been investigated for their effects on different lupus conditions through clinical trials, in vivo, in vitro, or in silico studies are reviewed. A special emphasis was placed on clinical trials, active phytochemicals, and their mechanisms of action. This review can be helpful for researchers in designing new goal-oriented studies. It can also help practitioners gain insight into recent updates on supplements that might help patients suffering from lupus conditions.

Immunosuppressive Effect of B7-H4 Pathway in a Murine Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Model

B7-H4, one of the co-stimulatory molecules of the B7 family, has been shown to play an important role in negatively regulating the adaptive immune response by inhibiting the proliferation, activation, and cytokine production of T cells. In this study, we investigate the role of B7-H4 in development of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We investigated a murine model of SLE using transfer of bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDCs) that were incubated with activated syngeneic lymphocyte-derived DNA. The recipient mouse produced anti-ds-DNA antibodies as well as displayed splenomegaly and lymphadenopathy as shown by significantly increased weights, and the kidneys showed lupus-like pathological changes include urine protein and glomerulonephritis with hyperplasia in glomeruli and increased mesangial cells and vasculitis with perivascular cell infiltration, glomerular deposition of IgG and complement C3. We showed that B7-H4 deficiency in BMDCs could cause greater production of anti-ds-DNA antibodies in transferred mice, and the lymph tissue swelling and the kidney lesions were also exacerbated with B7-H4 deficiency. Treatment with a B7-H4 antagonist antibody also aggravated the lupus model. Conversely, B7-H4 Ig alleviated the lupus manifestations. Therefore, we conclude that B7-H4 is a negative check point for the development of SLE in this murine model. These results suggest that this approach may have a clinical potential in treating human SLE.

The constituents of Urtica cannabina used in Uighur medicine

Urtica cannabina L. (Urticaceae) is a perennial herb that grows in Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region (northwest China). Two megastigmanes (1, 2) and five flavonoid glycosides (3-7) were isolated from its fruit. Compound 1 was determined by spectroscopic analysis to be (+)-blumenol A, and its absolute stereochemistry was determined in detail using chemical conversion and a modification of Mosher's method. Other compounds were identified as (+)-dehydrovomifoliol (2), isovitexin (3), isoquercitrin (4), astragalin (5), afzelin (6), and quercitrin (7) using spectroscopic (NMR, HMBC, MS) and physical methods (melting point and optical rotation). Compounds 1-7 were isolated from this plant for the first time, while this is the first report of megastigmanes in the Urticaceae family. The chemotaxonomic significance of the isolation of these megastigmanes and flavonoid glycosides from Urtica species is discussed.

T-cell epitopes of aeroallergens

OBJECTIVE

To describe the current knowledge of the T-cell epitopes of common aeroallergens, how they were discovered, and implications for future therapy.

DATA SOURCES

PubMed search of English-language articles without date limits pertaining to T-cell epitopes of aeroallergens included on a standard skin test panel.

STUDY SELECTION

A total of 127 articles were screened based on the results of the PubMed search and cross-indexed as needed. The highest quality and most clinically relevant articles were included for discussion.

RESULTS

Of the 47 allergen extracts included on the standard skin test panel at our instittition, T-cell epitopes have been described for 13. Immunodominant epitopes have been used for peptide immunotherapy trials.

CONCLUSIONS

T-cell epitopes have been characterized for a minority of common aeroallergens. However, knowledge is rapidly expanding and can lay the groundwork for therapies that specifically target T cells.

Role of endogenous 4-1BB in the development of systemic lupus erythematosus

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is characterized by the production of autoantibodies directed against nuclear antigens including nucleosomes and DNA. To determine the role of T-cell costimulatory molecule 4-1BB in the regulation of SLE, MRL-Fas(lpr) (lpr) mice deficient in 4-1BB (lpr/4-1BB(-/-)) were generated and their disease phenotype was compared to that of control lpr mice. The main finding of this study is that the lpr/4-1BB(-/-) mice had more pronounced skin lesions which appeared earlier, increased lymphadenopathy, increased renal damage, and higher mortality than 4-1BB-intact control lpr mice. The increased severity of lesions in lpr/4-1BB(-/-) mice was closely associated with increases in CD4(+) T, CD3(+) B220(+) double-negative T cells, serum immunoglobulin, anti-dsDNA autoantibodies, and tissue immunoglobulin deposits. These data suggest that the 4-1BB-4-1BB ligand signalling pathway plays an important role in SLE and that deletion of 4-1BB confers susceptibility to lpr mice, leading to accelerated induction of disease and early mortality.

Role of TLR9 in anti-nucleosome and anti-DNA antibody production in lpr mutation-induced murine lupus

Systemic lupus erythematosus is characterized by the production of autoantibodies directed against nuclear Ags, including nucleosome and DNA. TLR9 is thought to play a role in the production of these autoantibodies through the capacity of nuclear immunogenic particles to interact both with BCR and TLR9. To determine the role of TLR9 in SLE, C57BL/6-lpr/lpr-TLR9(-/-) and TLR9(+/+) mice were analyzed. The abrogation of TLR9 totally impaired the production of anti-nucleosome Abs, whereas no difference was observed in the frequency of anti-dsDNA autoantibodies whose titer was strikingly higher in TLR9(-/-) mice. In addition a higher rate of mesangial proliferation was observed in the kidney of TLR9-deficient animals. These results indicate that in C57BL/6-lpr/lpr mice, TLR9 is absolutely required for the anti-nucleosome Ab response but not for anti-dsDNA Ab production which is involved in mesangial proliferation.

Modulatory effect of Urtica dioica L. (Urticaceae) leaf extract on biotransformation enzyme systems, antioxidant enzymes, lactate dehydrogenase and lipid peroxidation in mice

The effects of two doses (50 and 100 mg/kg body wt given orally for 14 days) of an ethanol-water (80%-20%) extract of Urtica dioica L. and butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) were investigated, for phase I and phase II enzymes, antioxidant enzymes, lactate dehydrogenase, lipid peroxidation and sulfhydryl groups in the liver of Swiss albino mice (8-9 weeks old). A modulatory effect of two doses and BHA was also observed for the activities of glutathione S-transferase, DT-diaphorase, superoxide dismutase and catalase in the kidney, lung and forestomach, as compared with the control group. The activities of cytochrome b5 (cyt b5), NADH-cytochrome b5 reductase (cyt b5 R), glutathione S-transferase (GST), DT-diaphorase (DTD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) showed a significant increase in the liver at both dose levels of extract. Both extract-treated showed significantly lower activity of cytochrome P450 (cyt P450), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase (cyt P450 R), total sulfhydryl groups (T-SH), nonprotein sulfhydryl groups (NP-SH) and protein-bound sulfhydryl groups (PB-SH). BHA-treated Swiss albino mice showed a notable increase in levels of cyt b5, DTD, T-SH, PB-SH, GPx, GR, and SOD in the liver while, LDH, cyt P450, cyt P450 R, Cyt b5 R, GST, NP-SH, and CAT levels were reduced significantly as compared to control values. The extract was effective in inducing GST, DTD, SOD and CAT activity in the forestomach and SOD and CAT activity in the lung at both dose levels. BHA-treated Swiss albino mice induced DTD, GST and all antioxidative parameters in the kidney, lung and forestomach.

Inflammation and Native American medicine: the role of botanicals

There is a growing interest in medicinal botanicals as part of complementary medicine in the United States. In particular, both physicians and consumers are becoming aware of the use of herbals by Native American societies; many botanicals sold today as dietary supplements in the United States were used by Native Americans for similar purposes. Yet, these supplements represent only a small number of the >2500 different plant species from vascular taxa, and >2800 species from all taxa, known to have been prized for their medicinal properties by the indigenous inhabitants of the North American continent. We review some of the studies of the immunomodulatory activities of botanicals used by native peoples of North America, the bioactive constituents responsible for those activities, and the mechanisms by which these constituents might modulate the immune system. We focus particularly on 3 species of purple coneflower (ECHINACEA:) because of the widespread use of purple coneflower in the United States to boost immunity and prevent upper respiratory infections. Seven of the 10 most common botanicals sold in the United States were used extensively by Native Americans. However, there are very few data to support such use and even less information about drug toxicity or interactions.