| Piperine is a major alkaloid in black and long pepper and has been shown to have potent anti-inflammatory properties. In this study I investigated the immunomodulatory effects of piperine on dendritic cells (DC), key initiators and modulators of T cell mediated immune responses. I demonstrated that piperine alters DC maturation by inhibiting maturation marker expression, chemokine receptor switch, and cytokine secretion. I also discovered that piperine impairs DC migration both in vitro and in vivo. I demonstrated that piperine is not restricted to MyD88-dependent or independent signalling but likely acts by impairing RelB nuclear translocation. Piperine treatment did not affect DC stimulation of CD4+ T cell proliferation yet did affect T cell cytokine secretion. This study demonstrates that piperine alters DC maturation, migration, and T cell stimulatory capacity. Future investigation of piperine's immunomodulatory properties could lead to development of novel therapies for treatment of autoimmune disorders or allograft rejection. |
