Arthritis due to pathogenic fungi is a serious disease causing rapid destruction of the joint. In the pathogenesis of
arthritis, T lymphocytes are considered to be one of the major immune cells. In present study, we examined the T cell immunoregulatory effect by
ochnaflavone (Och), a
biflavonoid, on
arthritis caused by Candida albicans that is the most commonly associated with fungal
arthritis. To examine the effects of ochnaflavonon Candida albicans-caused
septic arthritis, an emulsified mixture of C. albicans cell wall and complete
Freund's adjuvant (CACW/CFA) was injected into BALB/c mice via hind footpad route on days -3, -2, and -1. On Day 0, Och at 1 or 2 mg/dose/time was intratraperitoneally given to mice with the swollen footpad every other day for 3 times. The footpad-
edema was measured for 20 days. Results revealed that Och reduced the
edema at all dose levels and furthermore, there was app. 45% reduction of the
edema in animals given 2 mg-dose at the peak of
septic arthritis (p < 0.05). This anti-arthritic effect was accompanied by the diminishing of the DTH (delayed type
hypersensitivity) activity against the CACW and by the provoking of the dominant T helper 2 (Th2) type
cytokines production (IL-4 and Il-10), which appeared to result in a suppression of T helper 1
cytokines (IFN-γ and IL-2). Besides the T cell immunoregulatory activity, Och inhibited T cells activation as evidenced by the
IL-2 reduction from PMA/
ionomycin-stimulated Jurkat cell line and in addition, the compound killed macrophages in a dose-dependent manner (p < 0.05). However, Och caused no
hemolysis (p < 0.05). These data implicate that Och, which has anti-arthritic activity based on the Th2 dominance as well as macrophage removal, can be safely administered into the blood circulation for treatment of the
arthritis caused by C. albicans. Thus, it can be concluded that Och would be an ideal immunologically evaluated agent for treating of Candida
arthritis.