Effect of uric acid on the maturation and the biological function of BMDCs

AIM: To investigate the effect of uric acid on the maturation and the biological function of murine bone-marrow derived dendritic cells (BMDCs) in vitro.METHODS: BMDCs were cultured with GM-CSF, IL-4, LPS and uric acid. Cell phenotypes were analyzed by flow cytometry. MTT was used to detect the effect of uric acid on the function of BMDCs in stimulating the proliferation of T cells. IL-12 released by BMDCs was also detected. RESULTS: BMDCs were cultured and identified. Uric acid at concentrations of 200 mg/L and 400 mg/L increased the expression of the molecules (CD11c, CD83, CD86, IA/IE) on BMDCs surface and the IL-12 level in the culture supernatants (P<0.05), promoted the proliferation of T cells at the T: DC rate 5∶1, 10∶1, 20∶1 (P<0.05). However, uric acid at concentration of 70 mg/L had no effect on above molecule expression (P>0.05), no effect on T cell proliferation with BMDCs (P>0.05) was observed. CONCLUSION: Uric acid promotes the differentiation, maturation, the expression of co-stimulatory molecules, the IL-12 production in BMDCs and enhances the ability of BMDCs to stimulate the proliferation of T cell in a specical dose range.