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Six new C 21 steroidal glycosides ( 1 – 6 ) and one dideoxysaccharide ( 7 ), named atratcynosides A–F and atratcynose A, were isolated from the 80% ethanol extract of the root of Cynanchum atratum , together with three known compounds ( 8 – 10 ). The structures of the new compounds were determined on the basis of extensive spectral analyses and qualitative chemical methods. All compounds were subjected to detect the immunosuppressive activities by an in vitro model of concanavalin A-induced proliferation of T-lymphocytes from mice. Compounds 1 – 3 showed significant immunosuppressive activities in dose-dependent manners with the IC 50 values from 3.3 to 7.0 μM. Moreover, the structure–activity relationship of the steroidal glycosides on the immunosuppression was analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is widely acknowledged that interleukin 17-producing T helper (Th17) cells are critically participant in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis. In the current study, we identified that the expression of CD4 + T cells specific co-inhibitory molecule B7-homologue 1(B7-H1) in spleenocytes and mononuclear cells isolated from brains and spinal cord were positive correlated with Th1 and Th17 cells generation and disease severity in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). Furthermore, B7-H1 transgenic mice developed milder EAE symptoms and fewer Th17 cells than B7-H1 wild type mice. We also found the proliferation of naïve CD4 + CD62 + T cells isolated from B7-H1 transgenic mice was inhibited. And naïve T cells isolated from B7-H1 transgenic mice produced fewer Th17 cells than WT mice in Th17-polarizing conditions, but the Th1, Th2, and inducible Treg differentiation were the similar in naïve T cells isolated from B7-H1 transgenic mice and WT mice. In conclusion, our study show CD4 + T cells specific B7-H1 is a slective inhibitor in proliferation of naïve T cells, Th17 differentiation and pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis., Competing Interests: CONFLICTS OF INTERETS None.