PX3.102, a novel chinese herb extract, diminishes chronic airway allograft rejection

Transplantation. 2004 Jul 15;78(1):158-61. doi: 10.1097/01.tp.0000132330.83969.b5.

Abstract

More effective immunosuppressants are needed to improve lung-transplantation survival. PX3.102 is a novel immunosuppressant isolated from a mixture of traditional Chinese herbs. We tested its protective role on chronic lung rejection in the heterotopic tracheal transplant model. C57BL/6 mice received BALB/c tracheal grafts and were treated with PX3.102, cyclosporine A, or vehicle. PX3.102 improved tracheal allograft lumen patency (*P<0.01 vs. vehicle and P=0.14 vs. cyclosporine A) but not epithelialization (P>0.2 vs. vehicle). Subsequent in vitro studies demonstrated that PX3.10 was toxic to fully differentiated human tracheal epithelial cells in a dose-dependent manner. PX3.102 markedly suppressed antigen-specific lymphocyte proliferation in vitro at a concentration 10 times lower than cyclosporine A. In conclusion, PX3.102, a promising and potent immunosuppressant, although exhibiting toxicity to airway epithelial cells at high doses, is effective in inhibiting chronic airway allograft rejection.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Division / drug effects
  • Chronic Disease
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Drugs, Chinese Herbal / pharmacology*
  • Graft Rejection / drug therapy*
  • Humans
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / pharmacology*
  • Lymphocytes / cytology
  • Lymphocytes / drug effects
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Respiratory Mucosa / cytology
  • Respiratory Mucosa / drug effects
  • Trachea / transplantation*
  • Transplantation, Homologous

Substances

  • Drugs, Chinese Herbal
  • Immunosuppressive Agents