EFFECTS OF TRIPCHLOROLIDE (T₄) OF TRIPTERYGIUM WILFORDII HOOK ON THE PRODUCTION OF IMMUNOGLOBULINS BY PERIPHERAL BLOOD MONONUCLEAR CELLS AND BY SYNOVIAL CELLS OF RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS PATIENTS IN VITRO

Tripchlorolide(T₄) is an active ingredient recently isolated from Tripterygium Wilfordii Hook. The in vitro effects of T₄ on the peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMC) of healthy persons(n=10), the digested single synovium cells(DSSC)(n=3) and PBMC(n=6) from RA patients on production of immunoglobulins(Ig) were studied using Elisa method. The results showed that T₄ at concentrations from 5 ng·ml^-1 to 35 ng·ml^-1 significantly reduced the production of Ig by PWM-stimulated PBMC of healthy persons in a dose dependent manner. At concentration of 25 ng·ml^-1, T₄ also reduced the Ig secretion of RA-PBMC and DSSC. It is hoped that T₄ would be an encouraging new drug of herbal nature for the treatment of RA.