Cryptotanshinone and tanshinone IIA enhance IL-15-induced natural killer cell differentiation

• Published in: Biochemical and biophysical research communications Vol. 425; no. 2; pp. 340 - 347
• Main Authors: Kim, Won Sam, Kim, Dong Oh, Yoon, Sung Jin, Kim, Mi Jeong, Yoon, Suk Ran, Park, Young-Jun, Jung, Haiyoung, Kim, Tae-Don, Kwon, Byoung-Mog, Choi, Inpyo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 24.08.2012
• Subjects: Animals; Cell Differentiation - drug effects; Cell Differentiation - immunology; Cryptotanshinone; Differentiation; Diterpenes, Abietane - pharmacology; Drugs, Chinese Herbal - pharmacology; Id2; Imidazoles - pharmacology; Interleukin-15 - pharmacology; Killer Cells, Natural - cytology; Killer Cells, Natural - drug effects; Killer Cells, Natural - immunology; Lymphocyte Subsets - cytology; Lymphocyte Subsets - drug effects; Lymphocyte Subsets - immunology; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; NK cells; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases - antagonists & inhibitors; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases - metabolism; Phenanthrenes - pharmacology; Phosphorylation; Pyridines - pharmacology; Tanshinone IIA; Transcription Factors - genetics; Tanshinone IIA; NK cells; Cryptotanshinone; Differentiation; Id2
• ISSN: 0006-291X; 1090-2104
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2012.07.093

► NK cells are differentiated from hematopoietic stem cells. ► Tanshinones induce NK cell differentiation. ► Tanshinones activates p38 pathway. Natural killer (NK) cells are a subset of lymphocytes crucial for innate and adaptive immune responses. Here we show a stimulatory effect of cryptotanshinone (CTS) and tanshinone IIA (TS), isolated from Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge, on the differentiation of NK cells. In the presence of IL-15, tanshinones increased NK cell maturation, NK cell differentiation and the expression of several transcription factors, including Id2, GATA3, T-bet, and Ets-1. Additionally, tanshinones increased p38 MAPK phosphorylation during NK cell differentiation. Furthermore, the p38 inhibitor SB203580 blocked the developmental effects of the tanshinones and suppressed Id2, T-bet, and Ets-1 expression during NK cell differentiation. These results suggest that tanshinones significantly increased IL-15-induced NK cell differentiation via enhancing the p38 phosphorylation and the expression of transcription factors.