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Updated: Jul 13, 2026
Preparation of Tumor Antigen-loaded Mature Dendritic Cells for Immunotherapy
Published on: August 1, 2013
Standardized extracts from Chinese herbs induce IL-10 production in human monocyte-derived dendritic cells and alter
N Novak1, J Haberstok, S Kraft
1Department of Dermatology, Friedrich-Wilhelms-University of Bonn, Germany.
Background:
The efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) as a treatment for atopic dermatitis has been evaluated in clinical trials. Until now, the underlying mechanism of this treatment has remained completely elusive; this is particularly true of its putative effects on dendritic cells (DCs), which might play a pivotal role in the disease.
Objective:
We investigated the influence of a standardized extract from 10 Chinese herbs that was successfully used in clinical trials on the generation of monocyte-derived DCs from atopic donors.
Methods:
Detailed phenotypic and functional exploration of DCs generated in the presence of IL-4 and GM-CSF and treated with different concentrations of TCM or a placebo control was performed.
Results:
TCM profoundly affected the morphology and phenotype of the developing DCs. They lost their typical dendritic morphology and decreased their expression of CD1a as well as the low-affinity IgE receptor CD23. Most importantly, TCM-exposed DCs exhibited a diminished stimulatory activity toward autologous antigen-specific and allogeneic T cells while secreting high amounts of IL-10.
Conclusion:
TCM induces immunopharmacologic alterations on DCs from atopic donors in vitro. These alterations might account, at least in part, for the therapeutic effect of this treatment in AD in vivo.
