查看文章

Thymoquinone, a component of Nigella sativa is known to confer protection against tumour growth due to stimulation of tumour cell apoptosis. Moreover, thymoquinone has remarkable anti-inflammatory potency. Surprisingly, despite its powerful influence on inflammation and its immunomodulatory effects, little is known about its effect on dendritic cells (DCs), key players in the regulation of innate and adaptive immunity. DC maturation and cytokine release is triggered by bacterial components such as lipopolysaccharides (LPS). The present study explored whether thymoquinone modifies LPS-induced DC maturation, survival and cytokine release. To this end, mouse bone marrow derived DCs were treated with LPS and different concentrations of thymoquinone and the surface expression of CD11c, CD86, MHCII, CD54 and CD40 was determined by FACS analysis, the formation of the interleukins 10 (IL-10 …