Chen B J
Bone Marrow Transplantation Program, Duke University Medical Center, Box 3289, 250 Carl Building, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
Leuk Lymphoma. 2001 Jul;42(3):253-65. doi: 10.3109/10428190109064582.
Triptolide is a diterpenoid triepoxide purified from a Chinese herb Tripterygium Wilfordii Hook F (TWHF). TWHF has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for more than two thousand years. However, its potential value was recognized by the western medicine only after investigators observed the effectiveness of TWHF in the treatment of leprosy and rheumatoid arthritis. Triptolide has been identified as the major component responsible for the immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory effects of TWHF. Triptolide inhibits both Ca(2+)-dependent and Ca(2+)-independent pathways and affects T cell activation through inhibition of interleukin-2 transcription at a site different from the target of cyclosporin A. Triptolide also has inhibitory effects on a variety of proinflammatory cytokines and mediators and on the expression of adhesion molecules by endothelial cells. Triptolide is effective for the treatment of a variety of autoimmune diseases and in prevention of allograft rejection and graft-versus-host disease in both animals and humans. Moreover, triptolide possesses antitumor and male anti-fertility effect. However, the toxicities of triptolide may be associated with renal, cardiac, hematopoietic and reproductive systems. Currently available data suggest that triptolide is a promising immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory agent and should be explored further in autoimmune diseases and transplantation.
雷公藤甲素是从中药雷公藤（Tripterygium Wilfordii Hook F，TWHF）中提纯的一种二萜类三环氧化物。雷公藤在中国传统医学中已使用了两千多年。然而，直到研究人员观察到雷公藤在治疗麻风病和类风湿性关节炎方面的有效性后，其潜在价值才被西医所认可。雷公藤甲素已被确定为雷公藤具有免疫抑制和抗炎作用的主要成分。雷公藤甲素抑制钙依赖和非钙依赖途径，并通过在与环孢素A不同的位点抑制白细胞介素-2转录来影响T细胞活化。雷公藤甲素对多种促炎细胞因子和介质以及内皮细胞黏附分子的表达也有抑制作用。雷公藤甲素对治疗多种自身免疫性疾病以及预防动物和人类的同种异体移植排斥和移植物抗宿主病有效。此外，雷公藤甲素具有抗肿瘤和抗男性生育作用。然而，雷公藤甲素的毒性可能与肾、心脏、造血和生殖系统有关。目前可得的数据表明，雷公藤甲素是一种有前景的免疫抑制和抗炎药物，应在自身免疫性疾病和移植领域进一步探索。
