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Zimmermann-Klemd AM, Reinhardt JK, Morath A, Schamel WW, Steinberger P, Leitner J, Huber R, Hamburger M, Gründemann C. Immunosuppressive Activity of Artemisia argyi Extract and Isolated Compounds. Front Pharmacol 2020; 11:402. [PMID: 32322200 PMCID: PMC7157444 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2020.00402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2019] [Accepted: 03/17/2020] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
The need for novel drugs for the treatment of autoimmune diseases is high, since available pharmaceuticals often have substantial side effects and limited efficacy. Natural products are a good starting point in the development of immunosuppressive leads. Since enhanced T cell proliferation is a common feature of autoimmune diseases, we investigated the T cell proliferation inhibitory potential of an extract library of plants used in traditional Chinese medicine. Using a newly established cell-based screening platform, an ethyl acetate extract of Artemisia argyi H.Lév. & Vaniot (Asteraceae, A. argyi) was found to suppress the proliferation of human primary T lymphocytes in vitro in an IL-2-dependent manner. Flow cytometry- and ELISA-based techniques further demonstrated that the A. argyi extract reduced the activation and function of T cells. Transcription factor analysis and flow cytometric calcium influx investigations indicated that the immunomodulatory effect was based on specific modification of T cell signaling in a non-cytotoxic manner which is mediated via the NFAT pathway and a non-sequestrant inhibition of the calcium influx. A series of guaianolide and seco-guaianolide sesquiterpene lactones, as well as a flavonoid, were identified in a previous study as the bioactive compounds in the A. argyi extract. The effects of these bioactive compounds were compared to those of the crude extract. The tested sesquiterpene lactones act via the transcription factor NFAT and NF-κB, thereby exhibiting their immunosuppressive potential, but have an overall effect on T cell biology on a more-downstream level than the crude A. argyi extract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy M. Zimmermann-Klemd
- Center for Complementary Medicine, Institute for Infection Prevention and Hospital Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Jakob K. Reinhardt
- Pharmaceutical Biology, Pharmacenter, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Anna Morath
- Signalling Research Centres BIOSS and CIBSS, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Spemann Graduate School of Biology and Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Wolfgang W. Schamel
- Signalling Research Centres BIOSS and CIBSS, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Center for Chronic Immunodeficiency, Medical Center Freiburg and Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Peter Steinberger
- Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology, and Immunology, Institute of Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Judith Leitner
- Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology, and Immunology, Institute of Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Roman Huber
- Center for Complementary Medicine, Institute for Infection Prevention and Hospital Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Matthias Hamburger
- Pharmaceutical Biology, Pharmacenter, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Carsten Gründemann
- Translational Complementary Medicine, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
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