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Abstract Title:

Thymol as a reciprocal regulator of T cell differentiation: Promotion of regulatory T cells and suppression of Th1/Th17 cells.

Abstract Source:

Int Immunopharmacol. 2019 Feb ;67:417-426. Epub 2018 Dec 31. PMID: 30586665

Abstract Author(s):

Haideh Namdari, Maryam Izad, Farhad Rezaei, Zahra Amirghofran

Article Affiliation:

Haideh Namdari

Abstract:

Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are critical for maintaining immune response and enhancing their differentiation has therapeutic implications for autoimmune diseases. In this study, we investigated the effects of thymol a well-known monoterpene from Thyme on differentiation and function of Tregs. In vitro generation of Tregs from purified naïve CD4CD25T cells in the presence of thymol was carried out. Suppressor activity of generated Tregs was examined by changes in the proliferation of CFSE-labeled conventional T cells. Thymol promotes differentiation of naïve CD4CD25T cells to CD4CD25Foxp3Tregs [66.9-71.8% vs. control (47%)] and increased intensity of Foxp3 expression on Tregs (p < 0.01). In functional assay, an increased immune suppression by thymol-induced Tregs (≈2.5 times of untreated Tregs) was detected. For in vivo study, thymol was intraperitoneally administered to ovalbumin (Ova)-immunized mice. Flow cytometry assessment of spleens from thymol-treated Ova-immunized mice showed increased number of CD4Foxp3Tregs (>8%, p < 0.01(and decreased levels of CD4T-betTh1 and CD4RORγtTh17 cells resulted in significant decreased Th1/Treg and Th17/Treg ratios. In ex vivo Ova challenge of splenocytes from thymol-treated Ova-immunized mice, similarly higher levels of CD4Foxp3Tregs, and also elevated TGF-β expression in CD4Foxp3population (48.1% vs. 18.9% in untreated Ova-immunized group) and reduced IFN-γ-producing CD4T-betT cells and IL-17-producing CD4RORγtT cells were detected. This led to marked decreased ratios of IFNγ/TGF-β and IL-17/TGF-β expressions. In conclusion, this study revealed thymol as a compound with enhancing effects on Treg differentiation and function, which may have potential benefits in treatment of immune-mediated diseases with Th1/Th17 over-activation.

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