1-palmitoyl-2-linoleoyl-3-acetyl-rac-glycerol (EC-18) Modulates Th2 Immunity through Attenuation of IL-4 Expression

• Published in: Immune network Vol. 15; no. 2; pp. 100 - 109
• Main Authors: Yoon, Sun Young, Kang, Ho Bum, Ko, Young-Eun, Shin, Su-Hyun, Kim, Young-Jun, Sohn, Ki-Young, Han, Yong-Hae, Chong, Saeho, Kim, Jae Wha
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Korea (South) 대한면역학회 01-04-2015; The Korean Association of Immunologists
• Subjects: Original; 면역학; IL-4; STAT6; Th2 modulator; EC-18
• ISSN: 1598-2629; 2092-6685
• DOI: 10.4110/in.2015.15.2.100

Controlling balance between T-helper type 1 (Th1) and T-helper type 2 (Th2) plays a pivotal role in maintaining the biological rhythm of Th1/Th2 and circumventing diseases caused by Th1/Th2 imbalance. Interleukin 4 (IL-4) is a Th2-type cytokine and often associated with hypersensitivity-related diseases such as atopic dermatitis and allergies when overexpressed. In this study, we have tried to elucidate the function of 1-palmitoyl-2-linoleoyl-3-acetyl-rac-glycerol (EC-18) as an essential modulator of Th1/Th2 balance. EC-18 has showed an inhibitory effect on the production of IL-4 in a dose-dependent manner. RT-PCR analysis has proved EC-18 affect the transcription of IL-4. By analyzing the phosphorylation status of Signal transducer and activator of transcription 6 (STAT6), which is a transcriptional activator of IL-4 expression, we discovered that EC-18 induced the decrease of STAT6 activity in several stimulated cell lines, which was also showed in STAT6 reporter analysis. Co-treatment of EC-18 significantly weakened atopy-like phenotypes in mice treated with an allergen. Collectively, our results suggest that EC-18 is a potent Th2 modulating factor by regulating the transcription of IL-4 via STAT6 modulation, and could be developed for immune-modulatory therapeutics.