Abstract
Isofatty acid-containing phosphatidylglycerol (Fr. 7-C), isolated from Bacillus stearothermophilus UBT8038, enhances the induction of concanavalin A (Con A)-activated suppressor T (Ts) cells in a dose dependent manner (0.01-1μg/ml). Its further biological properties on mouse mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) has been demonstrated. Fr. 7-C (0.01-1 μg/ml) suppressed the MLR at 4 d in a dose-dependent manner when added at the start of splenocyte cultivation. Moreover, Fr. 7-C was effective in preventing the generation of cytotoxic T lymphocytes after the MLR. On the other hand, this fraction significantly enhanced the induction of Ts cells in the MLR carried out in any of the antigen-specific, antigen-nonspecific and major histocompatibility complex antigen-nonrestricted fashions. Fr. 7-C increased prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) release approximately 2-fold in the culture supernatant of Con A-activated splenocytes, and PGE2 release decreased dose-dependently when cultured with indomethacin. The inhibitory effect by Fr. 7-C on the MLR was abrogated by the addition of indomethacin. The enhancement by Fr. 7-C on Ts cell induction was blocked by indomethacin in a dose dependent manner. These results strongly suggest that Fr. 7-C suppresses the MLR via the enhancement of antigen-nonspecific Ts cell induction mediated at least partly by PGE2.
