Immunomodulatory effect of water extract of cinnamon on anti-CD3-induced cytokine responses and p38, JNK, ERK1/2, and STAT4 activation.

Abstract

CONTEXT:

Cinnamon bark is a very popular herb used in traditional medicine to treat various disorders such as chronic gastric symptoms, arthritis, and the common cold.

OBJECTIVE:

The immunomodulatory effect of water extract of cinnamon bark (CWE) on cytokine secretion and involvement of intracellular signaling molecules in activated T cells have been examined.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

Mice were orally administered CWE for 7 days. Serum was obtained 90 min after intravenous injection of anti-CD3 antibody (Ab). Splenocytes were cultured with anti-CD3 Ab and CWE for cytokine expression, cell cycle, apoptotic/necrotic changes, and viability. IκBα, p38, JNK, ERK1/2, STAT4, and STAT6 were analyzed using western blotting.

RESULTS:

Administration of CWE decreased systemic levels of IFN-γ, but not the levels of IL-4 or IL-2. In vitro, CWE inhibited anti-CD3 Ab-stimulated IFN-γ and IL-4 at the mRNA and secreted protein levels. Despite its inhibition of IL-2 transcript, CWE enhanced IL-2 secretion. CWE treatment caused a reduction in the sub-G1 phase, accompanied by an increased ratio of apoptotic cells to necrotic cells. The increased IL-2 secretion by CWE was not mediated by its direct effect on CD4 T cells. CWE inhibited the activation of p38, JNK, ERK1/2, and STAT4, but not IκBα degradation or STAT6.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS:

These observations provided evidence that CWE was able to down-regulate IFN-γ expression in activated T cells without altering IL-2 production, involving inhibition of p38, JNK, ERK1/2, and STAT4. Our results contribute to a better understanding of the immunomodulatory action of cinnamon bark for the application of inflammatory disorders.

• Authors: Beom-Joon Lee, Youn-Jung Kim, Dong-Hyung Cho, Nak-Won Sohn, Hee Kang
• Journal: Immunopharmacology and immunotoxicology (Immunopharmacol Immunotoxicol) Vol. 33 Issue 4 Pg. 714-22 (Dec 2011) ISSN: 1532-2513 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 22053946 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived
• CD3 Complex
• Cytokines
• Immunologic Factors
• Plant Extracts
• STAT4 Transcription Factor
• Stat4 protein, mouse
• Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3
• p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
• MAP Kinase Kinase 4

Topics

• Animals
• Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived (immunology, pharmacology)
• Apoptosis (drug effects, immunology)
• CD3 Complex
• Cells, Cultured
• Cinnamomum zeylanicum (chemistry)
• Cytokines (biosynthesis, immunology)
• Enzyme Activation (drug effects, immunology)
• Gene Expression Regulation (drug effects, immunology)
• Immunologic Factors (chemistry, immunology)
• Immunomodulation (drug effects, immunology)
• Inflammation (drug therapy, immunology, metabolism)
• Lymphocyte Activation (drug effects, immunology)
• MAP Kinase Kinase 4 (immunology, metabolism)
• MAP Kinase Signaling System (drug effects, immunology)
• Male
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred BALB C
• Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 (immunology, metabolism)
• Plant Extracts (chemistry, pharmacology)
• STAT4 Transcription Factor (immunology, metabolism)
• T-Lymphocytes (immunology, metabolism)
• p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases (immunology, metabolism)