Tsai W.-J.Chang C.-T.Wang G.-J.Lee T.-H.Chang S.-F.SHAO-CHUN LUKuo Y.-C.2020-02-062020-02-0620111749-8546https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-79953092808&doi=10.1186%2f1749-8546-6-12&partnerID=40&md5=c5b449477d63b8320c0f5323ccecdb03https://scholars.lib.ntu.edu.tw/handle/123456789/454619Background: Arctium lappa (Niubang), a Chinese herbal medicine, is used to treat tissue inflammation. This study investigates the effects of arctigenin (AC), isolated from A. lappa, on anti-CD3/CD28 Ab-stimulated cell proliferation and cytokine gene expression in primary human T lymphocytes.Methods: Cell proliferation was determined with enzyme immunoassays and the tritiated thymidine uptake method. Cytokine production and gene expression were analyzed with reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction.Results: AC inhibited primary human T lymphocytes proliferation activated by anti-CD3/CD28 Ab. Cell viability test indicated that the inhibitory effects of AC on primary human T lymphocyte proliferation were not due to direct cytotoxicity. AC suppressed interleukin-2 (IL-2) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) production in a concentration-dependent manner. Furthermore, AC decreased the IL-2 and IFN-γ gene expression in primary human T lymphocytes induced by anti-CD3/CD28 Ab. Reporter gene analyses revealed that AC decreased NF-AT-mediated reporter gene expression.Conclusion: AC inhibited T lymphocyte proliferation and decreased the gene expression of IL-2, IFN-γ and NF-AT. ? 2011 Tsai et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.[SDGs]SDG3arctigenin; CD3 antibody; gamma interferon; glyceraldehyde 3 phosphate dehydrogenase (NADP); interleukin 2; monoclonal antibody CD28; transcription factor NFAT; adult; Arctium; article; cell viability; controlled study; cytokine production; cytotoxicity; drug effect; gene expression; human; human cell; interferon production; lymphocyte proliferation; male; normal human; reporter gene; T lymphocytejournal article10.1186/1749-8546-6-122-s2.0-79953092808