OBJECTIVETo study the change and the effect of milkvetch root (MR) on neuro-endocrino-immune (NEI) network related indexes in repeated asthmatic attack model rats.

METHODSRats were randomly divided into five groups: the normal group (A), the model group (B), and the three treated groups (C, D, E) treated with low, medium and high dose of the MR by gastrogavage. The corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH) mRNA expression in hypothalamus was tested by Realtime-PCR, serum adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and corticosterone (CORT) were detected with radioimmunoassay, serum IL-6, IL-4, IFN-gamma determined with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and the lung tissue pathology was examined by hematoxylin and eosin staining.

RESULTSAs compared with the normal group, in the rats 3 weeks after modeling, CRH mRNA expression, blood IFN-gamma and plasma ACTH were unchanged, serum level of CORT raised significantly (P<0.05), IL-6 and IL-4 showed an increasing trend but without significance. Low dose of MR could promote the production of serum CORT, and hight dose of MR could down-regulate the concentrations of IL-4 and IL-6 (P<0.01). No significant difference was found in comparison of pathological changes of lung tissue among the groups.

CONCLUSIONRats suffered from repeated asthmatic attack have some disorders in indexes of NEI, MR could enhance the function of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal cortex axis and adjust the balance of Th1 and Th2 cytokines to alleviate the inflammation of asthma.

Animals ; Asthma ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Astragalus Plant ; chemistry ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System ; drug effects ; immunology ; Male ; Pituitary-Adrenal System ; drug effects ; immunology ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred BN

The anti-inflammatory effects of an ethanol extract of Angelica gigas (EAG) were investigated in vitro and in vivo using croton oil-induced inflammation models. Croton oil (20 microgram/mL) up-regulated mRNA expression of cyclooxygenase (COX)-I and COX-II in the macrophage cell line, RAW 264.7, resulting in the release of high concentrations of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). EAG (1~10 microgram/mL) markedly suppressed croton oil-induced COX-II mRNA expression and PGE2 production. Application of croton oil (5% in acetone) to mouse ears caused severe local erythema, edema and vascular leakage, which were significantly attenuated by oral pre-treatment with EAG (50~500 mg/kg). Croton oil dramatically increased blood levels of interleukin (IL)-6 and PGE2 without affecting tumor-necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and nitric oxide (NO) levels. EAG pre-treatment remarkably lowered IL-6 and PGE2, but did not alter TNF-alpha or NO concentrations. These results indicate that EAG attenuates inflammatory responses in part by blocking the COX-PGE2 pathway. Therefore, EAG could be a promising candidate for the treatment of inflammatory diseases.
Angelica/*immunology ; Animals ; Cell Line ; Cyclooxygenase 1/genetics/*immunology ; Cyclooxygenase 2/genetics/*immunology ; Dinoprostone/genetics/immunology ; Inflammation/drug therapy/enzymology/*immunology ; Interleukin-6/blood ; Macrophages ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Nitric Oxide/blood ; Phytotherapy/*methods ; Plant Extracts/*pharmacology/therapeutic use ; Plant Roots/immunology ; RNA, Messenger/chemistry/genetics ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/blood

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of Rhaponticum uniforum polysaccharide on immune function in normal mice and the underlying mechanism.

METHODSRBC and ovalbumin were employed as antigens to be injected to mice, respectively. Three doses of R. uniforum polysaccharide (50, 100, 200 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1)) were given orally for seven days. After the secondary immunization, the level of corresponding antibody and the concentration of serum IL-2, IFN-gamma were determined.

RESULTThe levels of antibodies (anti-SRBC and anti-ovalbumin) and cytokines (IL-2 and IFN-gamma) in median dose group of R. uniforum polysaccharide were all significantly higher than those in control groups (P <0.05).

CONCLUSIONR. uniforum polysaccharide could enhance the immune function in normal mice.

Animals ; Antibodies ; immunology ; Antibody Formation ; drug effects ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Erythrocytes ; immunology ; Interferon-gamma ; blood ; Interleukin-2 ; blood ; Leuzea ; chemistry ; Male ; Mice ; Ovalbumin ; immunology ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Polysaccharides ; administration & dosage ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Random Allocation ; Sheep

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of PRCB1a (one component of polysaccharides from Radix Cynanchi Bungei) on transformation of T lymphocytes of rabbit in vitro and immune function in mice.

METHODThree doses of PRCB1a (2,4,6 g x L(-1)) were respectively put in bottle with PHA and blood of rabbit. The effect of PRCB1a on immunity in vitro was studied by observing transformation of T lymphocytes; The dosage of PRCB1a (50,100,150 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1)) was given orally for seven days. The effects on immune function were investigated in mice.

RESULTThree doses of PRCB1a could significantly promote (P < 0.01) the ability of T lymphocytes proliferation; PRCB1a could improve the mouse thymus and spleen index, the celiac macrophage ability of engulfing CRBC, the delayed type hypersensitivity ability and the macrophage engulfing carbon granula ability.

CONCLUSIONThe results indicate PRCB1a can enhance nonspectific and specific cellular immune function.

Adjuvants, Immunologic ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Cynanchum ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Female ; Lymphocyte Activation ; drug effects ; Male ; Mice ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Polysaccharides ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Rabbits ; Random Allocation ; T-Lymphocytes ; drug effects ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of Colquhounia root tablet (CRT) combined with immunosuppressive protocal in treating patients with chronic allograft nephropathy (CAN).

METHODSThirty-three patients of CAN, with urinary protein > or = 1.0 g/24 h and serum creatinine (SCr) > or =150 (micromol/L), were assigned to two groups, the 15 in the treated group treated with CRT combining modified immunosuppressive protocol (IIP) therapy and the 18 in the control group treated with IIP alone, all for 6 months. The clinical efficiency, 24 h urinary protein and clearance of creatinine (CCr) were observed.

RESULTSThe effective rate in the treated group [60% (9/15 cases)] was significantly higher than that in the control group [22.0% (4/18 cases), P < 0.05], and the lowering of 24 h urinary protein in the former was more significant than in the latter at the end of the 3rd and the 6th month of treatment (P < 0.05). At the end of 12-month follow-up, SCr and CCr level were stable in the treated group, while in the control group, SCr level increased and CCr level decreased significantly (P < 0.05), comparisons of the two indexes between the two groups at the end of the therapeutic course and follow-up study all showed significant differences (P < 0.05). Serum creatinine doubling to baseline were seen in 2 patients of the treated group and 7 of the control group. One patient in the treated group and 4 in the control group entered the end stage of renal disease.

CONCLUSIONTherapy with CRT combined IIP seems to be more effective in reducing urinary protein excretion in patients with CAN than that with IIP alone, and a more favorable renal function preserving effect of the former is shown by a short-term follow-up.

Adult ; Aged ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; therapeutic use ; Kidney Diseases ; drug therapy ; immunology ; surgery ; Kidney Transplantation ; adverse effects ; Lamiaceae ; chemistry ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Transplantation, Homologous ; adverse effects ; Young Adult

Astragalus heteropolysaccharides (AHPS) is obtained from the dried roots of Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bunge var. mongholious (Bunge) Hsiao. In the present study, we observed its effects on erythrocyte immune adherence function in mice with adjuvant-induced arthritis (AA). The mice were treated intragastrically with AHPS of 1 000, 500, and 250 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1) separately and treated with tripterygium glycosides (TG) of 60 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1) as positive control. The number of complement receptor type 1 (CR1) on erythrocyte, the concentration of circulating immune complex (CIC) in serum and the amount of immune complex (IC) deposition in synovium of knee joint were determined by flow cytometry, polyethylene glycol (PEG-6000) precipitation and ponceau S (P-S) staining and fluorescent immunohistochemistry respectively. The pathological change of knee joint was evaluated by histological section. The results showed that both AHPS and TG improved significantly the primary and secondary local or systemic symptoms of the mice with AA and reduced the synovium hyperplasia, inflammatory cell infiltrate, pannus and cartilage demolish of knee joint, and AHPS of 1 000, 500, and 250 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1) could significantly increase the number of CR1 on erythrocyte, improve the elimination of CIC in the peripheral blood and reduce the deposition of IC in joint synovium in a dose-dependent manner (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05). The results indicate that one of the therapeutic effective mechanisms of AHPS on mice with AA could be to increase gene expression of CR1 of mice with AA.
Animals ; Antigen-Antibody Complex ; blood ; metabolism ; Arthritis, Experimental ; metabolism ; pathology ; Astragalus Plant ; chemistry ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Erythrocytes ; immunology ; Knee Joint ; pathology ; Male ; Mice ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Polysaccharides ; administration & dosage ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Random Allocation ; Receptors, Complement ; blood ; Synovial Membrane ; immunology

AIM: Euphorbia kansui (E. KS) is a traditional medicine used in China for thousands of years with the effect of propulsion in the gastrointestines. However, there is no reported study of E. KS on gastrointestinal motility until now. The aim of this work is to study the effect of E. KS on the propulsion of gastrointestines, and to elucidate the possible mechanism of action. METHODS: E.KS was prepared as a 30% ethanol extract and used for the experiment of small and large intestines of mice by oral administration with three different dosages (1.2, 0.6 and 0.3 g·kg(-1)). The feces were observed in vivo. The morphology was carried out to detect if there are any changes in the intestines after the extract of E. KS administration. The assays of mRNA and protein expression were employed to observe IL-1β, TNFα and caspase 3. RESULTS: It was shown that the extract of E.KS promoted diarrhea in mouse feces after administration, inhibited the contraction of smooth muscle of mouse small intestine and caused the inflammatory exudation on the mucosa of the intestines, enhanced the expression of both mRNA and the protein levels of IL-1β and TNFα in the small or large intestines. CONCLUSION The results showed that the extract of E. KS acted on the intestinal smooth muscle with propulsion of feces involving the irritation of the intestines with acute inflammatory reactions.
Animals ; Diarrhea ; etiology ; genetics ; immunology ; physiopathology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Euphorbia ; adverse effects ; chemistry ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Motility ; drug effects ; Humans ; Interleukin-1beta ; genetics ; immunology ; Intestines ; drug effects ; physiopathology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Muscle, Smooth ; drug effects ; physiopathology ; Plant Roots ; adverse effects ; chemistry ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; genetics ; immunology

The expression plasmid pET32CPS harboring SmCPS gene was transformed into E. coli BL21 trxB (DE3) resulting in recombinant strain E. coli [pET32CPS]. The induction of E. coli [pET32CPS] in different temperatures, induction time, IPTG concentrations and A600 values of E. coli were performed. The optimal expression conditions of SmCPS were characterized according to the orthogonal analysis, and the ratio of the interest protein to total proteins reached to 35.6%. The recombinant SmCPS protein purified by Ni2+ affinity chromatography column was identified by SDS-PAGE and Western blotting, and then used for rabbit immunization. The titer of the rabbit antiserum against SmCPS was about 1:24 300 after the third immunization, and could specifically recognize the antigen of SmCPS protein by Western blotting analysis. The successful preparation of polyclonal antibody against SmCPS laid a foundation for further correlative study between expression of SmCPS and the production of tanshinones in protein level.
Alkyl and Aryl Transferases ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; metabolism ; Animals ; Antibody Formation ; Escherichia coli ; metabolism ; Gene Expression ; Immune Sera ; biosynthesis ; immunology ; Isopropyl Thiogalactoside ; chemistry ; Male ; Plant Proteins ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; metabolism ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Plasmids ; Rabbits ; Recombinant Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Salvia miltiorrhiza ; chemistry ; Temperature ; Time Factors ; Transformation, Genetic

OBJECTIVETo investigate the protective effects of Hongbeiyegen (HBYG) against immunological liver injury induced by bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS).

METHODSImmunological liver injury was induced in rats by BCG and LPS injected via the tail vein. The liver index, thymus index and spleen index were calculated and the serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and nitric oxide (NO) and liver homogenate contents of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) were determined.

RESULTSHBYG significantly improved the liver index, thymus index and spleen index, and reduced the serum levels of ALT, AST and NO, and as the liver homogenate contents of TNF-alpha and IL-1beta.

CONCLUSIONHBYG offers obvious protective effects against immunological injury liver in mice.

Alanine Transaminase ; blood ; Animals ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; blood ; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Euphorbiaceae ; chemistry ; Female ; Interleukin-1beta ; metabolism ; Lipopolysaccharides ; Liver ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Liver Diseases ; immunology ; prevention & control ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred Strains ; Mycobacterium bovis ; Nitric Oxide ; blood ; Phytotherapy ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Treatment Outcome ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the abirritation and antiinflammation effects of Monkshood Root and Peony Root used singly and in combination, and to find the enhanced effects of the two drugs used in combination; To observe the effect of Monkshood Root and Peony Root used singly and in combination by studing the immunoregulation function in experimental animals.

METHODThe response of delayed type hypersensitivity in mice, the phagocytosis of abdominal macrophages in mice, and the production of special antibodies in mice were observed.

RESULTThe two drugs used in combination could increase phagocytosic function of mononuclear macrophagocyte in hypoimmuitic model mice, and inhibit the responses of delayed type hypersensitivity in the hyperimmunitic model mice and the nonimmunosuppressive treated mice, with nosignificant effect on the production of special antibodies in mice.

CONCLUSIONIn accordance with the mechanism of the disorder between the anti-inflammation effect and the induce-inflammation effect on arthritis in the immune system, these data show the bidirectional effect of the two drugs used in combination on the immune responses, which may be one of the main mechanisms of treating arthralgia due to wind-dampness.

Aconitum ; chemistry ; Adjuvants, Immunologic ; therapeutic use ; Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal ; therapeutic use ; Arthritis, Experimental ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Hypersensitivity, Delayed ; drug therapy ; Male ; Mice ; Paeonia ; chemistry ; Phytotherapy ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry