The induction of cytokine gene expression in murine peritoneal macrophages by Pseudostellaria heterophylla.
We have previously shown that a mitogenic fraction (PH-I) separated from Pseudostellaria heterophylla (P. heterophylla) could act as a priming agent for the release of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) in mice. In the present study, PH-I was further purified by gel filtration chromatography and the resulting three fractions (PH-I A, PH-I B and PH-I C) were assessed for the induction of TNF-alpha, interleukin-1-alpha (IL-1-alpha) and IL-1-beta gene expression in mice by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and polymerase chain reaction. It was found that fraction PH-I C from P. heterophylla was the most potent priming fraction among the three fractions for the induction of TNF-alpha in serum and the TNF-alpha mRNA in murine macrophages. Moreover, all three fractions were found to increase the expression of IL-1-alpha mRNA while PH-I C showed the most potent activating effect on the expression of IL-1-beta mRNA.
Wong
C K
CK
Department of Biochemistry, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin.
Leung
K N
KN
Fung
M C
MC
Fung
K P
KP
Choy
Y M
YM
D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002850:Chromatography, Gel; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D017737:Macrophages, Peritoneal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis*
D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D007375:Interleukin-1; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha