Astragalus polysaccharides enhance the humoral and cellular immune responses of hepatitis B surface antigen vaccination through inhibiting the expression of transforming growth factor beta and the frequency of regulatory T cells

作者：Du, Xiaogang; Chen, Xiaobing; Zhao, Bing; Lv, Yao; Zhang, Huaiyu; Liu, Hanmei; Chen, Zhiyu; Chen, Yanger; Zeng, Xianyin^*

来源：FEMS Immunology and Medical Microbiology, 2011, 63(2): 228-235.

DOI：10.1111/j.1574-695X.2011.00845.x

• Astragalus polysaccharides
• hepatitis B vaccine
• adjuvant
• immune response
• TLR-4
• TGF-beta
• Treg

Astragalus polysaccharides (APS), extracted from the root of Astragalus membranaceus, a traditional Chinese medicinal herb, have extensive pharmacological and strong immunomodulatory effects. In this study, the potential adjuvant effect of APS on humoral and cellular immune responses to hepatitis B subunit vaccine was investigated. Coadministration of APS with recombinant hepatitis B surface antigen significantly increased antigen-specific antibody production, T-cell proliferation and CTL (cytotoxic T lymphocyte) activity. Production of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), interleukin-2 (IL-2) and IL-4 in CD4(+) T cells and of IFN-gamma in CD8(+) T cells were dramatically increased. Furthermore, expression of the genes PFP, GraB, Fas L and Fas were up-regulated; interestingly, expression of transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) and the frequency of CD4(+)CD25(+)Foxp3(+) regulatory T cells (Treg cells) were down-regulated. Expression of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) was significantly increased by administration of APS. Together, these results suggest that APS is a potent adjuvant for the hepatitis B subunit vaccine and can enhance both humoral and cellular immune responses via activating the TLR4 signaling pathway and inhibit the expression of TGF-beta and frequency of Treg cells.

• 出版日期2011-11
• 单位四川农业大学