Triptolide （PG-490） induces apoptosis of dendritic cells through sequential p38 MAP kinase phosphorylation and caspase 3 activation

Dendritic cells (DCs) are the most potent antigen-presenting cells that play crucial roles in the regulation of immune response, friptolide, an active component purified from the medicinal plant Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F. has been demonstrated to act as a potent immunosuppressive drug capable of inhibiting T cell activation and proliferation. However. little is known about the effects of triptolide on DCs.