Resveratrol inhibits phenotypic and functional maturation of murine bone marrow-derived dendritic cells

This study investigated the effects of resveratrol, a natural polyphenol found in grapes and grape products such as wine and having a wide range of biological and pharmacological activities effecting on the phenotypic and functional maturation of bone marrow (BM)-derived dendritic cells (DC). Resveratrol inhibited the expression of costimulatory molecules (CD80 and CD86), and major histocompatibility complex (MHC) classes I and II significantly, and had the same effect dose-dependently on DC. Resveratrol also significantly suppressed the ability of BM-DC to produce intracellular IL-12 p40/p70 and secretory IL-12 p70 in response to lipopolysaccharides (LPS) stimulation. Resveratrol-treated DC were highly efficient in antigen capture via mannose receptor-mediated endocytosis. Also, they were poor stimulators of naïve allogeneic T-cell proliferation and induced lower levels of IL-2 in responding T cells. These results indicate the immunosuppressive properties of resveratrol, which may be therapeutically useful in controlling chronic immune and/or inflammatory diseases through the down-regulation of DC differentiation and maturation.