Objective To establish a culture protocol for Th17 cells in vitro and evaluate the effect of curcumin on the differentiation and functions of Th17 cells and explore the related mechanisms. Methods Splenic CD4+CD25- T cells of C57BL/6 mice were isolated and purified with magnetic bead methods, and were co-cultured with plate-bound anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 antibodies and with transforming growth factor (TGF)-β, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-23, anti-interferon-γ antibody and anti-IL-2 antibody for Th17-polarization. The cultured Th17 cells were allocated into four groups: the control group, in which T cells were cultured on the basis of the above protocol; the low-concentration curcumin (CM-L, 5 μmol/L) and high-concentration (CM-H, 25 μmol/L) curcumin groups, and sirolimus (SRL, 100 ng/ml) group. The proportion of Th17 cells was detected with flow cytometry, and the mRNA expression of retinoic acid-related orphan receptor (ROR)γt, IL-17A, IL-21 was examined with real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Finally, the protein expression of RORγt and the phosphorylation levels of signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) 3 were measured using western blotting analysis. Results The proportion of Th17 cells in the freshly isolated CD4+CD25- T cells was (3.1 ±0.4)%, whereas the proportion of the cells cultured with the protocol could get [(54.1±3.4)%, P<0.01]. As compared with the control group, the Th17 cells proportion in CM-L, CM-H and SRL groups was significantly decreased [CM-L (40.3±2.8)%, CM-H (25.8±2.3)%, SRL (25.0±2.0)%versus the control (54.1±3.4)%, t=6.15, 12.63, 12.97, P<0.01], and no marked difference was seen between CM-H group and SRL group (ft>0.05). Moreover, the mRNA levels of RORγt, IL-17A and IL-21, the protein expression of RORγt and the phosphorylation levels of STAT 3 in CM-L, CM-H and SRL groups were also lower than those in the control group (IL-17A mRNA: CM-L 0.81±0.05, CM-H 0.61±0.05, SRL 0.58±0.05, Control 1.01 ±0.11, t=4.81, 8.52, 8.89; IL-21 mRNA: CM-L 0.73±0.06, CM-H 0.49±0.03,SRL 0.59±0.03, Control 1.12±0.11, t=5.98, 9.22, 7.95, P<0.01). The mRNA level of IL-21 in the CM-H group was lower than that in the SRL group (P<0.05). Conclusion In vitro, curcumin can inhibit the differentiaton of splenic CD4+CD25- T cells into Th17 cells in the setting of Th 17-polarization and inhibit the expression of IL-17A and IL-21 mRNA, which is associated with the inhibitive effect of curcumin on RORγt expression and STAT 3 phosphorylation.

ive] To observe the therapeutic effects of Xiaoji Decoction (XD) in treating intermed iate and late stages of lung cancer. [ Methods] One hundred and twelve patients with lung cancer in stage ? -? were randomly allocated to Group A, Group B and Group C. Group A ( n = 49) was treated with XD alone, Group B ( n = 33 ) was treated with various chemotherapeutic regimens according to the histo-logical types of lung cancer: CAP regimen for lung squamous carcinoma, EP regimen for lung adenocarci-noma and CE regimen for small cell carcinoma of lung, In Group C, 30 patients were treated with chemo therapy combined with XD. Symptomatic relief, life quality, tumor size, distant metastasis, sub-types of T lymphocytes, survival period and side effects in the three groups were evaluated after one course of treatment. [Results] The effects of XD on tumor size were evaluated by the effective rate and stabilized rate. They were 4.08%and 53.06%, 21.21% and 48.48%, and 46.67%and 76.67%in Group A, Group B and Group C respectively. The differences between Group A and Group B were significant ( P