OBJECTIVE

To study the effect of Apigenin (AP) on the proliferation, cell cycle and apoptosis of mouse T cells in vitro.

METHODS

The lymphocytes were prepared from lymph nodes and thymus of mice. The effect of AP on the proliferation of T in response to ConA at different concentrations (25, 50, 100, 150, 200 micromol/L) was detected by MTT. Cell cycle was measured by PI staining and FCM. The effect of Apigenin and Apigenin with DEX on T cell apoptosis was measured by Annexin V-FITC/PI double staining and FCM. The effect of different concentrations of AP cytotoxicity to T cells was measured by MTT.

RESULTS

25-200 micromol/L of AP didn't have cytotoxicity to T cells, but it had some inhibitory effect on T cells in response to ConA(P<0.01), arresting cell cycle at G0/G1 in a dose-dependent manner. Different concentrations of AP inhibited the apoptosis of T cells, especially those induced by DEX(P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

AP can inhibit the proliferation of mouse T cells in response to ConA, arrest cell cycle at G0/G1 and inhibit the apoptosis of T cells.