Tanshinone IIA protects against immune-mediated liver injury through activation of t-cell subsets and regulation of cytokines

Abstract

Background and Aim: Tanshione IIA (TSN) is the major active component of Salvia miltiorrhiza, a traditional Chinese Medicine. TSN protects against antioxidant-induced liver injury, although the exact mechanism is not well understood.

Materials and Methods: In this study, the protective effects of TSN was examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and histochemistry of several cytokines.

Results: TSN is found to significantly reduce plasma alanin aminotransferase and aspartate amino transferase levels in mice with concanavalin A-induced immune-mediated liver injury. TSN increases T lymphocyte subset CD3+, CD4+ and CD8+ ratios.

Also, TSN significantly reduces inflammatory cytokines, including interleukin-2, interleukin-4, interferon-gamma and tumor necrosis factor alpha, while elevates anti-inflammatory cytokine, interleukin-10.

Conclusions: TSN may provide a potential drug candidate for liver injury therapeutics.

Keywords::

• Tanshinone IIA
• liver injury
• concanavalin A
• cytokines

Acknowledgements

The authors thank Dr. Xin-Po Yang at Chinese People’s Liberation Army 301 Hospital, Institute on Aging for technical assistance. Also, the authors are grateful for the support provided by the NSFC Dean’s Research Grant (30701138) and Minzu University 985 fund (cun985-3-3).

Declaration of interest: The author Xiao-Yan Qin receives public funding NSFC Dean’s Research Grant (30701138) and Minzu University 985 fund (cun985-3-3). The authors report no conflicts of interest.