Selective priming of Th1-mediated antigen-specific immune responses following oral administration of mixed prescriptions of traditional Korean medicines.
BACKGROUND
In previous studies, we showed that oral administration of traditional Korean medicines, Soamsan (SA) and Bo-yang-hwan-o-tang (BHT), modulated antigen-specific immune responses in mice.


METHODS
We attempted to strengthen cell-mediated immune responses in mice using two mixed prescriptions composed mainly of components used in SA and/or BHT. The effect of oral administration of the medicines on the induction of antigen-specific immune responses was investigated using hen egg-white lysozyme (HEL) as a model antigen system.


RESULTS
Following oral administration, HEL-specific cellular immune responses were enhanced in HEL low-responder mice, and the concentrations of gamma interferon (IFN-gamma), but not interleukin (IL)-4, increased significantly. In addition, the prescriptions decreased the level of HEL-specific antibodies of the immunoglobulin (Ig)G1 subtype, which is associated with helper T lymphocyte (Th2) cell stimulation. Moreover, the presence of the medicines in vitro significantly increased IFN-gamma production from mouse splenocytes, and the magnitude of the increase was closely associated with glycoprotein concentrations.


CONCLUSIONS
The Korean prescriptions enhanced anti-HEL-specific cellular immune responses by selectively priming specific subtypes of the helper T cell population. Consequently, they might be useful therapy for patients who need enhanced Th1, or to suppress Th2 immune responses.
Lee
Jeong-Chae
JC
Division of Biological Sciences and Research Center of Bioactive Materials, Chonbuk National University, Chonju, South Korea.
Jung
Ha-Na
HN
Kim
Ju
J
Woo
Won-Hong
WH
Jeong
Woo-Yeal
WY
Chung
Gook-Hyun
GH
Jang
Yong-Suk
YS
D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000187:drug effects*; D000941:Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D016923:Cell Death / Q000187:drug effects; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002645:Chickens / Q000276:immunology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000494:pharmacology; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000494:pharmacology; D007723:Korea; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D008518:Medicine, East Asian Traditional; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009113:Muramidase / Q000276:immunology; D010047:Ovalbumin / Q000276:immunology; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology*
D000941:Antigens; D016207:Cytokines; D006023:Glycoproteins; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D010936:Plant Extracts; C479639:bo-yang-hwan-o-tang; C479640:soamsan; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D010047:Ovalbumin; D009113:Muramidase