Astragalus polysaccharides regulate T cell-mediated immunity via CD11chighCD45RBlow DCs in vitro

Astragalus polysaccharides (APS) isolated from one of the Chinese herbs, Astragalus mongholicus, are known to have a variety of immunomodulatory activities. APS (50, 100, 200μg/ml) stimulation could induce the differentiation of splenic DCs to IL-12-producing CD11chighCD45RBlow/CD11chigh DCs (R2), and further induce activation of immune function of T lymphocyte with shifting of Th2 to Th1 in vitro. In addition, the effect of APS on T-cell differentiation to Th1 was not associated with the inhibition of IL-10 production in CD11clowCD45RBhigh/CD45RBhigh DCs (R4).