In vitro effects of sho-saiko-to on production of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor by mononuclear cells from patients with chronic hepatitis C.
During the past 2 years, drug-induced interstitial pneumonia was reported in 66 Japanese patients, mainly among chronic hepatitis C patients, undergoing treatment with the Japanese herbal medicine "Sho-saiko-to" (TJ-9). As interstitial pneumonia is also induced by granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), we examined the effects of TJ-9 on G-CSF production in peripheral blood mononuclear cells. In patients with hepatitis B or C, G-CSF production in the absence of any stimulation was significantly lower than healthy controls (p < 0.01). G-CSF production increased along with the increase of TJ-9 levels, and this could induce excessive production of G-CSF in hepatitis C patients, and this may be a cause of interstitial pneumonia.
Yamashiki
M
M
Department of Laboratory Medicine, Mie University School of Medicine, Tsu, Japan.
Nishimura
A
A
Nobori
T
T
Nakabayashi
S
S
Takagi
T
T
Inoue
K
K
Ito
M
M
Matsushita
K
K
Ohtaki
H
H
Kosaka
Y
Y
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000378:metabolism*; D017563:Lung Diseases, Interstitial / Q000139:chemically induced*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor; C018142:saiko-keishi-to