Dendritic cells (DCs) are crucial regulators of allergic diseases. Hesperetin, an important bioactive compound in Chinese traditional medicine, has antioxidant and anti-allergic properties. In this study, we examined whether hesperetin influences surface molecule expression, cytokine production, the capacity to induce T cell proliferation, and the underlying signaling pathway in monocyte-derived DCs from patients with allergic asthma. The results show that hesperetin significantly suppressed Der p 1-induced HLA-DR, CD86 and CD83 expression in DCs. However, the secretion of IL-10 was not affected. Hesperetin-treated DCs exhibited a reduced ability to stimulate autologous CD4+ T cells, accompanied by less Th2 polarization. In addition, the Der p 1-induced phosphorylation of IκBα and the translocation of NF-κB p65 were inhibited in the presence of hesperetin. These novel findings provide insight into the immunopharmacological role of hesperetin in DC-based allergic diseases.

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