Baicalin ameliorates lupus autoimmunity by inhibiting differentiation of Tfh cells and inducing expansion of Tfr cells

  • Cell Death Dis. 2019 Feb 13;10(2):140. doi: 10.1038/s41419-019-1315-9.
Ji Yang  1 ,  Xue Yang  2  3 ,  Jie Yang  4 ,  Ming Li  5
Affiliations
  • 1. Department of Dermatology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China. [email protected].
  • 2. Division of Rheumatology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
  • 3. Institute of Rheumatology, Immunology and Allergy, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
  • 4. Blood Engineering Lab, Shanghai Blood Center, Shanghai, China.
  • 5. Department of Dermatology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China. [email protected].
PMID: 30760702 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-019-1315-9
Abstract

Baicalin is a natural compound isolated from Chinese herb, which has been reported as an anti-inflammatory drug. Here, we demonstrated that Baicalin treatment could reduce urine protein, inhibit anti-ds-DNA antibody titers, and ameliorate lupus nephritis in MRL/lpr lupus-prone mice. Baicalin inhibited Tfh cell differentiation and IL-21 production, but promoted Foxp3+ regulatory T cell differentiation including part of follicular regulatory T (Tfr) cells. Intravenous injection of Baicalin-induced Foxp3+ regulatory T cells could relieve nephritis, inhibit Tfh cell differentiation and IL-21 production. Baicalin inhibited mTOR activation, reduced mTOR agonist-mediated Tfh cell expansion and increased Tfr cells. These data suggest that Baicalin attenuates lupus autoimmunity by up- and downregulating the differentiation of Tfr cells and Tfh cells, respectively. Baicalin and ex vivo expanded Foxp3+ regulatory T cells are promising therapeutics for the treatment of lupus.

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