Gold Compound Induces Immune Suppression via AHR-TGF-β1 Signaling

Gold compounds containing planar N-heterocyclic (NHC) carbene ligands are potent aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) ligands. Further studies with the lead compound (called MC3), show that MC3 activates TGFβ signaling while repressing CD4+ T-cell activation in vitro, in human and mouse T-cells, and in scurfy mouse, while repression of AHR activity or TGFβ-SMAD cascades compensated its immune suppressive function. The in-vivo induction of Tgfb1 expression was associated with reduced severity of the autoimmune markers. Total RNA was extracted from MC3-treated and non-treated HepG2 cells for 1 and 24 hours. The cell culture was carried out in standard well-plate culture.