Skip to main content

Immunosuppressive and antiinflammatory effects of triptolide and its prodrug PG-490-88

Publication ,  Journal Article
Chen, BJ; Chao, NJ
Published in: Drugs of the Future
March 26, 2002

Triptolide is a diterpenoid triepoxide purified from Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F, an herb found in China. Triptolide inhibits T cell activation mainly through inhibition of interleukin-2 production. In contrast to the target of ciclosporin and FK506, the target of triptolide is at the purine-box/ARRE/NF-AT and NF-κB target sequences after specific binding to DNA. Triptolide also induces apoptosis of T cells by activating the caspase cascade. Moreover, triptolide can suppress the expression of multiple proinflammatory cytokines and mediators, which play important roles in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases, transplantation rejection and GVHD. Although data in humans is very limited, triptolide has been successfully used to treat rheumatoid arthritis in humans and prevent bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis in mice. Triptolide significantly prolongs the survival of allogeneic grafts in rats and completely prevents lethal GVHD in mice. Despite its narrow therapeutic window, triptolide is a very potent immunosuppressant and antiinflammatory agent with unique mechanisms of action.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Drugs of the Future

DOI

ISSN

0377-8282

Publication Date

March 26, 2002

Volume

27

Issue

1

Start / End Page

57 / 60

Related Subject Headings

  • Medicinal & Biomolecular Chemistry
  • 3214 Pharmacology and pharmaceutical sciences
  • 1115 Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Chen, B. J., & Chao, N. J. (2002). Immunosuppressive and antiinflammatory effects of triptolide and its prodrug PG-490-88. Drugs of the Future, 27(1), 57–60. https://doi.org/10.1358/dof.2002.027.01.647608
Chen, B. J., and N. J. Chao. “Immunosuppressive and antiinflammatory effects of triptolide and its prodrug PG-490-88.” Drugs of the Future 27, no. 1 (March 26, 2002): 57–60. https://doi.org/10.1358/dof.2002.027.01.647608.
Chen BJ, Chao NJ. Immunosuppressive and antiinflammatory effects of triptolide and its prodrug PG-490-88. Drugs of the Future. 2002 Mar 26;27(1):57–60.
Chen, B. J., and N. J. Chao. “Immunosuppressive and antiinflammatory effects of triptolide and its prodrug PG-490-88.” Drugs of the Future, vol. 27, no. 1, Mar. 2002, pp. 57–60. Scopus, doi:10.1358/dof.2002.027.01.647608.
Chen BJ, Chao NJ. Immunosuppressive and antiinflammatory effects of triptolide and its prodrug PG-490-88. Drugs of the Future. 2002 Mar 26;27(1):57–60.

Published In

Drugs of the Future

DOI

ISSN

0377-8282

Publication Date

March 26, 2002

Volume

27

Issue

1

Start / End Page

57 / 60

Related Subject Headings

  • Medicinal & Biomolecular Chemistry
  • 3214 Pharmacology and pharmaceutical sciences
  • 1115 Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences