title: Immunomodulatory effects of aqueous-extracted Astragali radix in methotrexate-treated mouse spleen cells.
abstract: The present study was conducted to evaluate the immunomodulatory effect of aqueous-extracted Astragali radix (ARE) in methotrexate (MTX)-treated mouse spleen cells. In spleen cell proliferation assay, ARE enhanced mitogenic activity in the dose-response manner. We also investigated the effect of ARE on the reducing of immune suppression caused by MTX in mouse spleen cells. MTX decreased the spleen cell proliferation (IC(50):800 microg/ml). However, ARE significantly reduced the suppression of cell proliferation by MTX in mouse spleen cells. Immunomodulatory effect of ARE were further investigated using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). In RT-PCR, we examined the expressions of various cytokines such as IL-6, IL-1alpha, IL-1beta, IL-12p40, GM-CSF and TNF. Enhancement of IL-1alpha and IL-12p40 mRNA expressions were shown in mouse spleen cells by ARE. In spite of MTX treatment, the expressions of IL-1alpha and IL-12p40 mRNA sustained in spleen cells. These data indicate that (1) ARE has a protective effect of immune suppression, and (2) the immunomodulatory effects of ARE may be, in part, associated with the expressions of IL-1alpha and IL-12p40 mRNA as well as the mitogenic effect on spleen cells.
authors.affiliation: Efficacy and Safety Research Center for Traditional Oriental Medicines, Kyungsan University, Kyongbuk Technopark, Daegu 706-060, South Korea.
authors.forename: Young Sun
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Ok Kyung
authors.initials: OK
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Chan Woo
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Seong Il
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Suh
authors.forename: Sang Woo
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Chae Ha
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Tae Won
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Jeon
authors.forename: Eun Sil
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Kwang Joong
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Seong Ho
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Wang Keun
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.forename: Hyo Jung
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002469:Cell Separation; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D007887:Fabaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D008934:Mitogens / Q000494:pharmacology; D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes / Q000494:pharmacology; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology; D012313:RNA / Q000302:isolation & purification; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D016207:Cytokines; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D008934:Mitogens; D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012313:RNA; D008727:Methotrexate