Figure 1. Baicalin inhibits T_H17 cell differentiation in vitro.

(A) CD4⁺CD25⁻ T cells from B6 mice were stimulated with anti-CD3, anti-CD28, and the indicated cytokines in the presence (open columns) or absence (filled columns) of Baicalin. IL-17 mRNA was analyzed by real-time RT-PCR at the indicated times. Results were expressed as mean ± SD, and fold induction compared with vehicle control (expression in vehicle control was set as 1.0). (B) IL-17 was examined by ELISA in culture supernatants after 3 days activation. Results were expressed as mean ± SD, and compared with vehicle control. (C) CD4⁺CD25⁻ T cells were cultured under T_H17 conditions in the presence of indicated doses of Baicalin for 3 days, and then re-stimulated with PMA and Ionomycin in the presence of Brefeldin A for 5 hours. The percentages of IL-17⁺ cells among CD4⁺ T cells were examined by flow cytometry. These experiments were performed three times with similar results.