Effect of Cordycepin on the Expression of the Inflammatory Cytokines TNF-alpha, IL-6, and IL-17A in C57BL/6 Mice

Culture supernatants of splenocytes from C57BL/6 mice were exposed to 0.3, 1.0, and 3.0 μg/ml cordycepin plus 3.0 μg/ml lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to investigate the effects of cordycepin (3`-deoxyadenosine) on the production of inflammatory cytokines. Co-administration of 3.0 μg/ml cordycepin with LPS in cultured murine spleen cells significantly diminished the expression of the inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in a time-dependent manner. Expression of the inflammatory cytokine IL-17A was substantially down-regulated in a time- dependent manner at all cordycepin concentrations. These findings suggest that cordycepin down-regulates the immediate hypersensitivity reaction stimulated by LPS.