Augmentation of immune cell activity against tumor cells by Rauwolfia radix.
In this study, we investigated the effect of Rauwolfia radix on heat shock protein (HSP) 70 expression and cytotoxicity against tumor cells in activated human T cells. When activated T cells were cultured with Rauwolfia radix for 18 h, HSP70 expression after heat shock was remarkably increased, and cytotoxicity against T98G tumor cells was augmented. Moreover, Rauwolfia radix also enhanced the cytotoxicity of heat shocked activated T cells against Molt-4 and T98G tumor cells. Secretions of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and tumor necrosis alpha (TNF-alpha), due to Concanavalin A (Con A) stimulation, were increased by Rauwolfia radix in activated T cells. To investigate the antitumor effect in vivo, EL-4 tumor-bearing mice were administered with Rauwolfia radix in drinking water. The survival period of the Rauwolfia radix treatment group was significantly prolonged compared with that of the control group. Reserpine, the major active ingredient of Rauwolfia radix, also enhanced the cytotoxicity of activated T cells against Molt-4 and T98G tumor cells, and prolonged the survival period of EL-4 tumor-bearing mice. Taken together, our results suggest that Rauwolfia radix can enhance the activity of immune cells against tumor cells.
Department of Geriatric Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo Ku, Tokyo 113-8655, Japan.
Guang-Bi
GB
Jin
Tie
T
Hong
Satoshi
S
Inoue
Tomohiko
T
Urano
Shigefumi
S
Cho
Koji
K
Otsu
Maya
M
Kitahara
Yasuyoshi
Y
Ouchi
Jong-Chol
JC
Cyong
D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D003208:Concanavalin A / Q000276:immunology; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D018869:Heat-Shock Response; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry; D011926:Rauwolfia / Q000737:chemistry*; D012110:Reserpine / Q000494:pharmacology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis
D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D003208:Concanavalin A; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D012110:Reserpine