title: Effect of Poncirus fructus on stem cell factor-induced mast cell migration.
abstract: Mast cell hyperplasia can be causally related with chronic inflammation. Stem cell factor (SCF), the ligand of the c-kit protooncogene product, is a major regulator and chemoattractant of mast cells. Poncirus fructus (PF) has been used against allergic diseases for generations in South Korea. PF (1 mg ml(-1)) significantly inhibited the SCF-induced migration of rat peritoneal mast cells (RPMCs). RPMCs exposed to SCF (50 ng ml(-1)) resulted in a drastic shape change with a polarized morphology while the cells exposed to PF (1 mg ml(-1)) remained resting, with little or no shape alteration. The drastic morphological alteration and distribution of polymerized actin were blocked by pretreatment with PF. In addition, PF inhibited both TNF-alpha and IL-6 secretion from RPMCs stimulated with SCF. Our findings provide evidence that PF inhibits chemotactic response and inflammatory cytokines secretion to SCF in mast cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, College of Oriental Medicine, Kyung Hee University, 1 Hoegi-dong, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul 130-701, South Korea.
authors.forename: Ho-Jeong
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Na
authors.forename: Hyun-Ja
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.forename: Woo-Jun
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Kwang-Ho
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Hyung-Min
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D010537:Peritoneum; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D032104:Poncirus; D051381:Rats; D019089:Stem Cell Factor / Q000494:pharmacology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D015850:Interleukin-6; D010936:Plant Extracts; D019089:Stem Cell Factor; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha