Enhancement of interferon-gamma production in glycyrrhizin-treated human peripheral lymphocytes in response to concanavalin A and to surface antigen of hepatitis B virus.
The effects of glycyrrhizin, a component of licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) roots, on the production of interferon-gamma in human peripheral lymphocyte-macrophage cultures by concanavalin A (Con A) was examined. Interferon-gamma production in normal lymphocyte-macrophage cultures treated with 10 to 100 micrograms/ml of glycyrrhizin at 37 degrees C for 12 hr or longer, and then treated with 10 micrograms/ml of Con A, was enhanced four to eight times compared to control cell cultures. Lymphocyte-macrophage cultures treated with 10 to 100 micrograms/ml of glycyrrhizin alone did not produce interferon. No significant difference in the adsorption of [3H]Con A to glycyrrhizin-treated and control lymphocyte-macrophage cultures was found, but RNA and protein synthesis of the treated lymphocytes was increased compared to control cells; DNA synthesis, however, was reduced. Collaboration between enriched T-lymphocytes and macrophages, both treated with glycyrrhizin, was needed for the enhancement of interferon-gamma production. A smaller increase in interferon production was also observed in the glycyrrhizin-treated peripheral lymphocyte-macrophage cultures derived from an asymptomatic carrier of hepatitis B virus, in response to Con A and surface antigen of hepatitis B virus.
Shinada
M
M
Azuma
M
M
Kawai
H
H
Sazaki
K
K
Yoshida
I
I
Yoshida
T
T
Suzutani
T
T
Sakuma
T
T
D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003208:Concanavalin A / Q000494:pharmacology; D006034:Glycyrrhetinic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D019695:Glycyrrhizic Acid; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007369:Interferon Inducers; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D009500:Neutralization Tests
D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D007369:Interferon Inducers; D003208:Concanavalin A; D019695:Glycyrrhizic Acid; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D006034:Glycyrrhetinic Acid