Benfotiamine Reduces Dendritic Cell Inflammatory Potency

Background: Benfotiamine is a synthetic liposoluble derivative of vitamin B1 that has been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties. Objective: To study the effects of benfotiamine on dendritic cells. Methods: Dendritic cells were obtained from murine bone marrow precursor cells in the presence of GM-CSF. Benfotiamine was applied to the cell culture during the process of bone marrow cell differentiation into dendritic cells. Dendritic cells were stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and expression of MHC class II molecules and CD86 was determined by flow cytometry, while levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and interleukin (IL)-1β in cell culture supernatants were measured by ELISA. F-Actin, NF-κB and Nrf2 were visualized by immunofluorescent staining and microscopy. Results: Benfotiamine potently reduced LPS-induced expression of MHC class II molecules and CD86, in addition to suppressing the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF and IL-1β. It also prevented LPS-imposed morphological changes of dendritic cells, i.e. enlargement and intensified protrusions. The effects were paralleled with the reduction of NF-κB translocation to the nucleus, but not of Nrf2 activation inhibition. Conclusion: Having in mind the importance of dendritic cells for the configuration of the immune response, our results imply that benfotiamine has the ability to regulate the immune response through inhibition of inflammatory properties of dendritic cells.