Murine Langerhans Cells Activation Induced by Administration of Shikon, Shikonin and Alkannin

概要

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Langerhans cells (LCs) and dendritic epidermal T cells (DETCs) are distributed in the epidermis of mice. It is considered that LCs and DETCs constitute the skin immune system. "Shikon" is a traditional crude drug and includes several shikonin derivatives. These derivatives have many pharmacological effects such as anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor. However, the effects of "Shikon" on epidermal immune ceDs is not known. We have examined the morphological analysis of in vivo activated murine LCs and DETCs induced by Kou-shikon, shikonin and alkannin. In Kou-shikon, shikonin and alkannin-treated mice, the LCs increased in size and had a highly dendritic morphology, and the fluorescence-positive area of the LCs increased with more prominent dendritic features. Dermal cellular infiltration in Kou-shikon, shikonin and alkannin-treated skin was slight and h did not cause edema. This suggested that SK, shikonin and alkannin function as biological response modifiers, which relates to activation of a part of immune function. In contrast, DETCs did not change in number and area. At the present, it is very difficult to elucidate these dissimilar results. The three irritants used in this experiment were naphthoquinone derivatives and showed similar effects on LCs and DETCs. Therefore naphthoquinone derivatives activated only LC but not DETC.
日本生薬学会の論文
2001-06-20