Biomaterial Database

Immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory mechanisms of triptolide, the principal active diterpenoid from the Chinese medicinal herb Tripterygium wilfordii Hook. f. 2003

Daoming Qiu, and Peter N Kao

Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Stanford University Medical Center, Stanford, California 94305, USA. peterkao@stanford.edu

Extracts of Tripterygium wilfordii hook. f. (leigong teng, Thundergod vine) are effective in traditional Chinese medicine for treatment of immune inflammatory diseases including rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, nephritis and asthma. Characterisation of the terpenoids present in extracts of Tripterygium identified triptolide, a diterpenoid triepoxide, as responsible for most of the immunosuppressive, anti-inflammatory and antiproliferative effects observed in vitro. Triptolide inhibits lymphocyte activation and T-cell expression of interleukin-2 at the level of transcription. In all cell types examined, triptolide inhibits nuclear factor-kappaB transcriptional activation at a unique step in the nucleus after binding to DNA. Further characterisation of the molecular mechanisms of triptolide action will serve to elucidate pathways of immune system regulation.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007166	Immunosuppressive Agents	Agents that suppress immune function by one of several mechanisms of action. Classical cytotoxic immunosuppressants act by inhibiting DNA synthesis. Others may act through activation of T-CELLS or by inhibiting the activation of HELPER CELLS. While immunosuppression has been brought about in the past primarily to prevent rejection of transplanted organs, new applications involving mediation of the effects of INTERLEUKINS and other CYTOKINES are emerging.	Immunosuppressant,Immunosuppressive Agent,Immunosuppressants,Agent, Immunosuppressive,Agents, Immunosuppressive
D010616	Phenanthrenes	POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS composed of three fused BENZENE rings.
D004224	Diterpenes	Twenty-carbon compounds derived from MEVALONIC ACID or deoxyxylulose phosphate.	Diterpene,Diterpenes, Cembrane,Diterpenes, Labdane,Diterpenoid,Labdane Diterpene,Norditerpene,Norditerpenes,Norditerpenoid,Cembranes,Diterpenoids,Labdanes,Norditerpenoids,Cembrane Diterpenes,Diterpene, Labdane,Labdane Diterpenes
D004365	Drugs, Chinese Herbal	Chinese herbal or plant extracts which are used as drugs to treat diseases or promote general well-being. The concept does not include synthesized compounds manufactured in China.	Chinese Herbal Drugs,Plant Extracts, Chinese,Chinese Drugs, Plant,Chinese Plant Extracts,Extracts, Chinese Plant,Herbal Drugs, Chinese
D004852	Epoxy Compounds	Organic compounds that include a cyclic ether with three ring atoms in their structure. They are commonly used as precursors for POLYMERS such as EPOXY RESINS.	Epoxide,Epoxides,Epoxy Compound,Oxiranes,Compound, Epoxy,Compounds, Epoxy
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D000894	Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal	Anti-inflammatory agents that are non-steroidal in nature. In addition to anti-inflammatory actions, they have analgesic, antipyretic, and platelet-inhibitory actions. They act by blocking the synthesis of prostaglandins by inhibiting cyclooxygenase, which converts arachidonic acid to cyclic endoperoxides, precursors of prostaglandins. Inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis accounts for their analgesic, antipyretic, and platelet-inhibitory actions; other mechanisms may contribute to their anti-inflammatory effects.	Analgesics, Anti-Inflammatory,Aspirin-Like Agent,Aspirin-Like Agents,NSAID,Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Agent,Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Agents,Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Agent,Anti Inflammatory Agents, Nonsteroidal,Antiinflammatory Agents, Non Steroidal,Antiinflammatory Agents, Nonsteroidal,NSAIDs,Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Agents,Agent, Aspirin-Like,Agent, Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory,Agent, Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory,Anti-Inflammatory Agent, Non-Steroidal,Anti-Inflammatory Agent, Nonsteroidal,Anti-Inflammatory Analgesics,Aspirin Like Agent,Aspirin Like Agents,Non Steroidal Anti Inflammatory Agent,Non Steroidal Anti Inflammatory Agents,Nonsteroidal Anti Inflammatory Agent,Nonsteroidal Anti Inflammatory Agents,Nonsteroidal Antiinflammatory Agents
D029757	Tripterygium	A plant genus of the family CELASTRACEAE that is a source of triterpenoids and diterpene epoxides such as triptolide.	Tripterygium wilfordii,Leigong Teng,Thundergod Vine,Tripterygium hypoglaucum,Leigong Tengs,Teng, Leigong,Tengs, Leigong,Thundergod Vines,Tripterygium hypoglaucums,Tripterygium wilfordius,Tripterygiums,Vine, Thundergod,Vines, Thundergod,hypoglaucums, Tripterygium,wilfordius, Tripterygium