Objective: To study the effect of mycophenolic acid (MPA) on maturation, endocytotic capacity and allostimulatory properties of human myeloid dendritic cell (MDC).
Methods: The peripheral blood mononuclear cells were isolated freshly from healthy volunteers (n = 15). The study group was treated by MPA. Co-stimulatory and adhesion molecular on MDC were analyzed by flow cytometry. After isolation of blood dendritic cell antigen-1(+) (BDCA-1(+)), the cellular uptake of FITC-dextran was measured by flow cytometry. After mixed lymphocyte reaction, the percentage of allogenic CD(4)(+) T cell in G(0) phase was analyzed by flow cytometry.
Results: (1) Maturation: Compared to control group, MPA down-regulated the level of CD40, CD62L, HLA-DR, CD54, CD80, CD83 and CD86 on MDC significantly in study group (t = -3.713, P > 0.010). (2) Endocytotic capacity: MPA enhanced significantly the endocytotic capacity of MDC in study group (t = 10.171, P = 0.000). (3) Allostimulatory capacity: Compared to control group, MPA reduced the ability of MDC to stimulate markedly the T cell proliferation in study group.
Conclusion: MPA may enhance the phagocytic capacity of human peripheral MDC, inhibit the maturity of MDC and impair its allostimulatory capacity of CD(4)(+) T lymphocyte.