Parthenolide Modulates Immune Response in Cells from C57BL/6 Mice Induced with Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis

Abstract

Multiple sclerosis is a chronic inflammatory and autoimmune disease of the central nervous system that affects more than 2.5 million people worldwide. Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis is a murine autoimmune disease used to study multiple sclerosis. Parthenolide, a natural sesquiterpene lactone found in Tanacetum parthenium L., is known for its strong anti-inflammatory activity. Herein, we have investigated the in vitro immunomodulatory effects of parthenolide on cytokine production and nitric oxide in cultured cells from myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein 35–55 amino acid peptide mice. Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis was induced in C57BL/6 mice with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein 35–55 amino acid peptide, and parthenolide was isolated from T. parthenium. Splenocytes and peritoneal cells were obtained from experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis-induced mice and incubated with parthenolide (1, 5, and 20 µM). After in vitro treatment with parthenolide, supernatants were collected, and nitric oxide and cytokines were measured. The results suggested that parthenolide may regulate the activity of Th17 and Th1 cells, mainly by decreasing IL-17, TNF-α, and interferon gamma production. This modulation may be related to the lower levels of IL-12p40 and IL-6 after treatment with parthenolide. It was shown, for the first time, that parthenolide presents in vitro immunomodulatory effects on inflammatory mediators produced by cells from experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis-induced mice.

Key words

parthenolide - Tanacetum parthenium - Asteraceae - multiple sclerosis - experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis - IL-17

• References

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