Department of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, China Medical University, No. 100, Sec. 1, Jingmao Rd., Beitun Dist., Taichung, 406040, Taiwan ROC.
Department of Chinese Pharmaceutical Sciences and Chinese Medicine Resources, College of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, 91 Hsueh-Shih Road, Taichung, 40402, Taiwan ROC.
J Ethnopharmacol. 2025 Jan 30;337(Pt 1):118824. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2024.118824. Epub 2024 Sep 12.
Periostracum Cicadae (PC), the molted exoskeleton of the cicada Cryptotympana pustulata Fabricius, is frequently employed in Chinese herbal medicine. Based on traditional therapies and pharmacological studies, PC appears to have immunomodulatory activity. However, the specific impact of PC on immunomodulation, particularly its effect on dendritic cells (DCs), remains unknown. DCs act professionally as antigen-presenting cells that trigger adaptive immune responses, making them critical for immunomodulation.
The DCs derived from mouse bone marrow were used to examine the suppressive effect of PC extract on DC activation and maturation. The in vivo suppressive effect was evaluated using a mouse model of contact hypersensitivity (CHS) responses. The determination of the substances in the sample was performed by Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry.
The ethyl acetate extract of PC (PCEA) significantly decreased the expressions of proinflammatory cytokines (IL-12, interleukin [IL]-6, as well as tumor necrosis factor [TNF]-α) and surface markers CD80 and CD86 in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated DCs. In the 2,4-dinitro-1-fluorobenzene-induced CHS mouse model, PCEA treatment dramatically attenuated the severity of symptoms. This was evidenced by the alleviation of ear swelling and a reduction in the count of infiltrating CD3 T cells in the tested ears. In addition, N-acetyldopamine dimer and trimer were identified as major components.
This study is the first to show that components derived from PCEA inhibit the activation and maturation of DCs as well as CHS responses, indicating they have the potential for treating delayed-type hypersensitivity or DC-related immune disorders.
蝉蜕（PC）是黑蚱Cryptotympana pustulata Fabricius 的蜕皮，常用于中药。基于传统疗法和药理学研究，PC 似乎具有免疫调节活性。然而，PC 对免疫调节的具体影响，特别是其对树突状细胞（DC）的影响，尚不清楚。DC 作为专业的抗原呈递细胞，触发适应性免疫反应，对免疫调节至关重要。
使用源自小鼠骨髓的 DC 来研究 PC 提取物对 DC 激活和成熟的抑制作用。使用接触超敏反应（CHS）反应的小鼠模型评估体内抑制作用。通过液质联用/质谱法测定样品中的物质。
PC 的乙酸乙酯提取物（PCEA）显著降低了脂多糖刺激的 DC 中促炎细胞因子（IL-12、白细胞介素 [IL]-6 和肿瘤坏死因子 [TNF]-α）以及表面标志物 CD80 和 CD86 的表达。在 2,4-二硝基-1-氟苯诱导的 CHS 小鼠模型中，PCEA 处理显著减轻了症状的严重程度。这表现在受测耳朵的肿胀缓解和浸润性 CD3 T 细胞计数减少。此外，还鉴定出 N-乙酰多巴胺二聚体和三聚体为主要成分。
本研究首次表明，PCEA 中的成分抑制 DC 的激活和成熟以及 CHS 反应，表明它们具有治疗迟发型超敏反应或与 DC 相关免疫紊乱的潜力。
