title: A polysaccharide-protein complex from Lycium barbarum upregulates cytokine expression in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells.
abstract: The production of cytokine is a key event in the initiation and regulation of an immune response. Many compounds are now used routinely to modulate cytokine production, and therefore the immune response, in a wide range of diseases, such as cancer. Interleukin-2 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha are two important cytokines in antitumor immunity. In this study, the effects of Lycium barbarum polysaccharide-protein complex (LBP(3p)) on the expression of interleukin-2 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells were investigated by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and bioassay. Administration of LBP(3p) increased the expression of interleukin-2 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha at both mRNA and protein levels in a dose-dependent manner. The results suggest that LBP(3p) may induce immune responses and possess potential therapeutic efficacy in cancer.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pharmacy, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, People's Republic of China. ganlu07@163.com
authors.forename: Lu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gan
authors.forename: Sheng-Hua
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Qiong
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Hui-Bi
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000378:metabolism*; D032305:Lycium / Q000378:metabolism*; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D010940:Plant Proteins; D011134:Polysaccharides