Immunomodulatory effects and mechanisms of plant alkaloid tetrandrine in autoimmune diseases  

作　　者：LAI Jenn-HaungRheumatology/Immunology and Allergy, Department of Medicine, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, China 

出　　处：《Acta Pharmacologica Sinica》2002年第12期1093-1101,共9页中国药理学报（英文版）

基　　金：Project supported by National Health Research Institutes,Taiwan,China.(NHRI-GT-EX89B915C)and Tri-Service General Hospital(TSGH-C91-13).

摘　　要：Autoimmune diseases characterized by activation of immune effector cells and damage of target organs are currently treated with a combination of several disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) that preserve different immunomodulatory mechanisms. Such a combination treatment strategy not only provides synergistic effects but also reduces side effects from individual drug. Tetrandrine (Tet), purified from a creeper Stephania tetrandra S Moore, is a bis-benzylisoquinoline alkaloid and has been used to treat patients with silicosis, autoimmune disorders, and hypertension in China's Mainland for decades. The accumulated studies both in vitro and in vivo reveal that Tet preserves a wide variety of immunosuppressive effects. Importantly, the Tet-mediated immunosuppressive mechanisms are evidently different from some known DMARDs. The synergistic effects have also been demonstrated between Tet and other DMARDs like FK506 and cyclosporin. These results highlight Tet a very potential candidate to be considered as one of DMARDs in the treatment of autoimmune diseases, especially rheumatoid arthritis. This review summarizes evidence-based in vivo and in vitro studies on this potential Chinese immunosuppressive herb.Autoimmune diseases characterized by activation of immune effector cells and damage of target organs are currently treated with a combination of several disease-modifying antirheumatic gruge(DMARDs) that preserve different immunomodulatory mechanisms.such a combination treatment strategy not only provides synergistic effects but also reduces side effects from individual drug.Tetrandring(Tet),purified from a creeper Stephania tetrandra S Moore,is a bis-benszylisoquinoline alkaloid and has been used to treat patients with silicosis,autoimmune disorders,and hypertension in China's Mainland for decades.The accumulated studies both in vitro and in vivo reveal that Tet preserves a wide variety of immunosuppressive effects.Importantly,the Tet-mediated immunosuppressive mechanisms are evidently different from some known DMARDs.The synergistic effects have also been demonstrated between Tet and othe DMARDs like FK506 and cyclosporin.These results highlight Tet a very potential candidate to be considered as one of DMARDs in the treatment of autoimmune diseases,especially rheumatoid arthritis.This review summarizes evidence-based in vivo and in vitro studies on this potential Chinese immunosuppressive herb.

关 键 词：Alkaloids Animals Apoptosis Arthritis  Rheumatoid Autoimmune Diseases BENZYLISOQUINOLINES Humans Immunosuppressive Agents Lymphocyte Activation Research Support  Non-U.S. Gov't T-LYMPHOCYTES 

分 类 号：R593.2[医药卫生—内科学]