Journal of Zhejiang University SCIENCE
(ISSN 1009-3095, Monthly)

2005   Vol. 6B   No. 9   p.919-925

In vitro study of immunosuppressive effect of apoptotic cells

ZHANG Wen-jin, ZHENG Shu-sen^†‡

(Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China)
^†E-mail: zhengss@mail.hz.zj.cn
Received Aug. 9, 2004; revision accepted Nov. 19, 2004

Abstract: Recent studies revealed that apoptotic cells are actively involved in immunosuppression and anti-inflammation. After being phagocytosed by macrophages, apoptotic cells can actively regulate cytokines secretion from lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated macrophages, in which the secretion of immunosuppressive cytokines such as interleukin-10 (IL-10) is increased while the pro-inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFa), interleukin-1beta (IL-1b) and leukin-8 (IL-8) are suppressed. In this paper, we first present evidence that phagocytosed apoptotic cells regulate cytokine secretion of LPS-stimulated macrophages, but also inhibit the activation of T lymphocytes stimulated by ConA. These data suggest that apoptotic cells can alter the biological behavior of macrophages which gain immunosuppressive property.

Key words: Macrophages, Apoptosis, Cytokines, Immunosuppression
doi:10.1631/jzus.2005.B0919             CLC number: R392

^‡ Corresponding Author