Crocin restores the balance of Th1/Th2 immune cell response in ConA-treated human lymphocytes

Background Following antigen stimulation, naive CD4(+) T cells differentiate into different T helper (Th) subsets characterized by lineage-specific transcriptional factors and cytokines. The balance between cytokines from Th1 and Th2 cells is disrupted in autoimmune disorders, asthma, and allergic reactions. Crocin, the major carotenoid of saffron, has anti-inflammatory properties. We investigated crocin modifying effects on the human lymphocytes proliferation and Th1/Th2 balance as a possible mechanism of its anti-inflammatory effects. Methods The human peripheral blood mononuclear cells were isolated using Ficoll density gradient centrifugation. MTT was used to evaluate the effect of 72-h treatment with different concentrations of crocin with or without ConA on lymphocytes proliferation. INF-gamma/IL-4 cytokine secretion and T-bet/GATA-3 transcription factor expression ratios (as indicators of Th1/Th2 response status) were measured in non-stimulated and ConA-stimulated cells in the presence or absence of crocin by ELISA and RT-qPCR methods, respectively. Results The results showed crocin at a concentration of 50 mu M and higher was toxic for human lymphocytes, and at a non-toxic concentration of 25 mu M, it did not affect cell proliferation. The ratio of T-bet/GATA-3 and INF-gamma/IL-4 was higher in the culture supernatant of ConA-stimulated cells compared to non-stimulated ones. Crocin-treated cells showed slightly lower T-bet/GATA-3 and INF-gamma/IL-4 ratios compared to untreated cells. Crocin (25 mu M) was also able to restore the increased ratio of Th1/Th2 immune response induced by ConA. Conclusions Crocin can alleviate inflammatory-stimulant effects of ConA on human lymphocytes by decreasing T-bet/GATA-3 and INF-gamma/IL-4 ratios, which are indicative of restoring the balance of Th1/Th2 responses.