Triptolide impairs dendritic cell migration by inhibiting CCR7 and COX-2 expression through PI3-K/Akt and NF-κB pathways

Abstract

Inhibition of dendritic cell (DC) migration into tissues and secondary lymphoid organs is an efficient way to induce immunosuppression and tolerance. CCR7 and PGE 2 are critical for DC migration to secondary lymphoid organs where DC initiate immune response. Triptolide, an active component purified from the medicinal plant Tripterygium Wilfordii Hook F., is a potent immunosuppressive drug capable of prolonging allograft survival in organ transplantation by inhibiting T cell activation and proliferation. Considering the essential role in T cell tolerance of DC migration to secondary lymphoid organs, here we demonstrate that triptolide can significantly inhibit LPS-triggered upregulation of CCR7 expression and PGE 2 production by inhibiting cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression in DC, thus impairing DC migration towards CCR7 ligand CCL19/MIP-3β in vitro. Moreover, triptolide-treated DC display impaired migration into secondary lymphoid organs and in vivo administration of triptolide also inhibits DC migration. Further studies show that the triptolide-mediated inhibitory effects of LPS-induced activation of phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase (PI3-K)/Akt and nuclear NF-κB activation are involved in down-regulation of COX-2 and CCR7 expression resulting in impaired migration to secondary lymphoid organs of DC. Therefore, inhibition of DC migration through decreasing COX-2 and CCR7 expression via PI3-K/Akt and NF-κB signal pathways provides additional mechanistic explanation for triptolide's immunosuppressive effect. © 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.