Abstract
Artemisia rupestris L. has long been used as a traditional herbal medicine owing to its immunomodulatory activity. Aqueous extracts of Artemisia rupestris L. (AEAR) contain the main functional component and can activate the maturation of dendritic cells (DCs) and enhance the adaptive immunity as the adjuvant against infections. To explore the underlying mechanism of immunomodulatory activities of AEAR, DCs were produced from bone-marrow cells of mice and the effects of AEAR on cell viability were assessed by the Cell Counting Kit 8 (CCK8) method and annexin V/propidium iodide staining assays. Then, the effects of AEAR on the morphology, maturation, and function of DCs were detected using a microscope, flow cytometry-based surface receptor characterization, and endocytosis assays. The secretion levels of cytokines were then analyzed with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The activation state of DCs was evaluated by the mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR). The activity of MAPKs and NF-κB pathways, which were involved in the regulation of AEAR on DCs, was further detected by Western blot. AEAR did not have a cytotoxic effect on DCs or mouse splenocytes. AEAR remarkably enhanced the phenotypic maturation of DCs and promoted the expression of costimulatory molecules and the secretion of cytokines in DCs. AEAR also significantly decreased the phagocytic ability of DCs and augmented the abilities of DCs to present antigens and stimulate allogeneic T-cell proliferation. Simultaneously, AEAR potently activated toll-like receptor (TLR)4-/TLR2-related MAPKs and induced the degradation of IκB and the translocation of NF-κB. In short, AEAR can profoundly enhance the immune-modulating activities of DCs via TLR4-/TLR2-mediated activation of MAPKs and NF-κB signaling pathways and is a promising candidate immunopotentiator for vaccines.
Highlights
Vaccination can prevent and control the spread of infectious diseases
We found that TLR4 played an important role in the activation of dendritic cells (DCs) by Artemisia rupestris L. (AEAR)
We explored the roles of TLR2 in AEAR-induced immunomodulation of DCs and related pathways
Summary
Vaccination can prevent and control the spread of infectious diseases. It is still needed to explore new vaccines for diseases that continue to threaten human and animal health, such as HIV, malaria, Vaccines 2020, 8, 0525; doi:10.3390/vaccines8030525 www.mdpi.com/journal/vaccinesVaccines 2020, 8, 0525 and Foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) [1]. Vaccination can prevent and control the spread of infectious diseases. Traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) and plants contain many active compounds such as polysaccharides, which show significant advantages in the treatment and prevention of infectious diseases, such as influenza, hepatitis B, asthma, and anthrax [2,3,4,5], thanks to their compatibility, non-toxicity, and therapeutic properties. The various biological activities of polysaccharides, such as antiviral, hypoglycaemic, and immunostimulatory activities, have been reported [6,7,8] Among these bio-activities, the immunoregulatory activity of polysaccharides has been widely concerned as they can significantly affect immune systems through immunological cell membrane receptors, and trigger several cellular events including the activation of innate immune cells and antigen-presenting cells as well as the secretion of cytokines. It is feasible to screen bioactive polysaccharides derived from aqueous extracts of TCM as an adjuvant
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