Fullerene C60 derivatives suppress the acquired immune responses (THER5P.832)

Abstract Fullerene C60 derivatives are the most promising nanomaterials because of its unique ability to scavenge large numbers of free radicals. Therefore fullerene C60 derivatives with antioxidant effects have been expected to apply to the medicine for inflammatory disease such as inflammatory bowel disease. We have previously shown that fullerene C60 derivatives have the anti-inflammatory effects independent of an antioxidant effects in vitro. However, little is known about the effect of fullerene C60 derivatives on acquired immune system. Here, we examined the effects of fullerene C60 derivatives on the acquired immune responses. At first, we examined the effects of fullerene C60 derivatives on ovalbumin (OVA)-induced immune responses in vivo. Treatment of OVA plus fullerene C60 derivatives induced a lower level of OVA-specific IgE and IgG than did treatment of OVA alone, suggesting that fullerene C60 derivatives suppressed acquired immunity. Next, we investigated the influence of C60 fullerene derivatives on T cell proliferation in a mouse mixed lymphocyte reaction. The fullerene C60 derivatives suppressed the production of IL-2 from responder splenocytes. Furthermore, fullerene C60 derivatives also suppressed the IL-2 production from CD4+ T cell stimulated by anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 antibodies, although NAC (anti-oxidant medicines) didn’t show such effect. These results show that the fullerene C60 derivatives have the effect to suppress the acquired immune system.