Chen Zhisong, Kwong Huat Tan Benny, Chan Soh Ha
WHO Collaborating Centre for Research and Training in Immunology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 117597, Singapore.
Int Immunopharmacol. 2008 Dec 10;8(12):1663-71. doi: 10.1016/j.intimp.2008.07.019. Epub 2008 Aug 26.
T lymphocytes play central roles in adaptive immunity. Lycium barbarum L. (L. barbarum), also known as wolfberry, is a Chinese herbal medicine with various biological activities, such as enhancing immunity, protecting liver damage, and reducing the side effects of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Here, we report that polysaccharide-protein complex from L. barbarum (LBP) is able to activate T cells. LBP was isolated from L. barbarum and separated to five homogenous fractions, designated LBPF1, LBPF2, LBPF3, LBPF4, and LBPF5. We found that LBP, LBPF4, and LBPF5 significantly stimulated mouse splenocyte proliferation. The proliferation proved to be of T cells, but not B cells. Cell cycle profile analysis indicated that LBP, LBPF4, and LBPF5 markedly reduced sub-G1 cells. LBP, LBPF4, and LBPF5 could activate transcription factors NFAT and AP-1, prompt CD25 expression, and induce IL-2 and IFN-gamma gene transcription and protein secretion. LBP (i.p. or p.o.) significantly induced T cell proliferation. Our results suggest that activation of T lymphocytes by LBP may contribute to one of its immuno-enhancement functions.
T淋巴细胞在适应性免疫中发挥核心作用。枸杞（Lycium barbarum L.），也被称为枸杞子，是一种具有多种生物活性的中草药，如增强免疫力、保护肝脏损伤以及减轻化疗和放疗的副作用。在此，我们报道枸杞多糖 - 蛋白复合物（LBP）能够激活T细胞。LBP从枸杞中分离出来，并被分离为五个均一组分，分别命名为LBPF1、LBPF2、LBPF3、LBPF4和LBPF5。我们发现LBP、LBPF4和LBPF5显著刺激小鼠脾细胞增殖。这种增殖被证明是T细胞的增殖，而非B细胞的增殖。细胞周期分析表明，LBP、LBPF4和LBPF5显著减少亚G1期细胞。LBP、LBPF4和LBPF5能够激活转录因子NFAT和AP - 1，促进CD25表达，并诱导IL - 2和IFN - γ基因转录及蛋白分泌。LBP（腹腔注射或口服）显著诱导T细胞增殖。我们的结果表明，LBP对T淋巴细胞的激活可能是其免疫增强功能之一。
