Phenotypic and functional maturation of murine dendritic cells induced by 18 alpha-and beta-glycyrrhetinic acid

Various studies have described glycyrrhizin (GL), an active triterpenoic saponin extract of licorice roots, as an anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antimicrobial, anti-tumor and immunomodulating agent. The activity of GL has been mainly attributed to its metabolites, 18-alpha (GA) and 18-beta-glycyrrhetinic acid (GB), which their mechanism of action on the immune system cells is not clearly known. In this study, we have investigated the effects of GA and GB on the immune system by targeting dendritic cells and analyzing phenotypic and functional maturity of murine dendritic cells (DCs) after treatment with these components. Stimulation of DCs with GA and GB resulted in up-regulation of CD40, CD86 and MHC-II molecules indicating their effects on the maturation of DCs. These components induced the allogenic immunostimulatory capacity of DCs by stimulating the proliferation of T cells and production of the T helper (h) 1-promoting cytokine, IL-12. They also increased the production of IFN-gamma by T cells in mixed-lymphocyte reaction. In conclusion, these results indicate that GA and GB may insert their immunomodulatory effects by enhancing DC maturation and modulating Th1/Th2 response through an increase in Th1 responses, implying their beneficial in host defense against infectious diseases.