title: Cytokine production regulation in human astrocytes by a herbal combination (Yuldahansotang).
abstract: Yuldahansotang (YH-Tang), a Sasang Constitutional prescription composed of seven herbal mixtures, has been developed as a formula to prevent and treat cerebral infarction (CI) of Taeumins. However, the mechanisms by which this formula affects CI remain unknown. Previously, regulation of serum cytokine levels by YH-Tang has been observed in individuals at the acute stage of CI disease. It is uncertain whether this is a cause or a result of the disease process. In this study, we investigated whether YH-Tang inhibited secretion of inflammatory cytokines from human astrocytes. YH-Tang regulated the cytokine secretions in astrocytes stimulated with substance P (SP) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS). YH-Tang significantly inhibited interleukin (IL)-1, IL-4, IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) secretion in astrocytes stimulated with SP and LPS, but did not inhibit interferon-y (IFN-gamma) and IL-2 secretion significantly. IL-1 has been shown to elevate TNF-alpha secretion from LPS-stimulated astrocytes while having no effect on astrocytes in the absence of LPS. Therefore, we investigated whether IL-1 mediated inhibition of TNF-alpha secretion from astrocytes by YH-Tang. Incubation of human astrocytes with IL-1 antibody abolished the synergistic cooperative effect of LPS and SP. These results suggest that YH-Tang may indirectly inhibit TNF-alpha secretion by inhibiting IL-1 secretion. Moreover, these findings indicate that YH-Tang has regulatory effects on cytokine secretion in an acute CI patient.
authors.affiliation: College of Oriental Medicine, Center of Oriental Medicinal Science, Wonkwang University, Iksan-city, Chonbuk, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Ji-Suk
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Seung-Woo
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Jong-Chun
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Ju
authors.forename: Si-Woo
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Kvung-Yo
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hyung-Min
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D001253:Astrocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D002460:Cell Line; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D015536:Down-Regulation; D006801:Humans; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology; D008518:Medicine, East Asian Traditional; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D013373:Substance P / Q000494:pharmacology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D007375:Interleukin-1; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D013373:Substance P