Induction of TGF-β and IL-10 production in dendritic cells using astilbin to inhibit dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis

Astilbin, a major bioactive compound from Rhizoma smilacis glabrae, has been reported to possess anti-inflammatory properties. Our study first evaluated astilbin on dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced acute colitis in mice. By intraperitoneal injection of astilbin, the severity of colitis was attenuated, and the serum levels of IL-10 and TGF-β were increased. Using flow cytometry, a higher number of IL-10+ dendritic cells (DCs) and TGF-β+ DCs and a lower number of CD86+ DCs, IL-12 p40+ DCs, and IL-1β+ DCs were detected in the spleen of mice with colitis after astilbin treatment. The administration of astilbin also resulted in the upregulation of CD103+ expression in colonic DCs. In a coculture system, murine bone marrow-derived DCs pretreated with astilbin resulted in an enhanced production of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ T cells. The results of this study show that astilbin could be a candidate drug for inflammatory bowel disease by mediating the regulatory functions of DCs.