title: Enhancing effects of Scutellaria baicalensis and some of its constituents on TGF-beta1 gene expression in RAW 264.7 murine macrophage cell line.
abstract: Transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-beta1) has been implicated as an inhibitor of cell proliferation and a potent inducer of apoptosis. Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi (SbG) has been widely used in Asia and recent investigations have shown that SbG has anticancer, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory effects. The aim of this study is to investigate the modulatory effect of SbG on TGF-beta1 gene expression. By using RAW 264.7 cell line as an in vitro model, the effects of SbG on TGF-beta1 gene expression were evaluated by ELISA, reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and quantitative PCR. Many inhibitors such as mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) inhibitor (PD98059), p38-MAPK inhibitor (SB203580), NF-kappaB inhibitor (aspirin) and protein kinase C inhibitor (H7) were used to determine the possible signal transduction pathways. The results showed that crude extracts of SbG as well as its pure compounds, baicalin, baicalein and chrysin up-regulated TGF-beta1 gene expression on RAW 264.7 cells in a concentration-dependent manner. However, the flavonoid of SbG, wogonin, did not up-regulate TGF-beta1 expression on gene and protein levels on RAW264.7 cells. The facts that aspirin and H7 but not PD98059 and SB203580 blocked the enhancing effect suggested that NF-kappaB and PKC might be involved in baicalin-enhanced TGF-beta1 gene expression. We conclude that SbG up-regulates TGF-beta1 gene expression on RAW264.7 cells through NF-kappaB and PKC pathways and this might provide evidence to explain the therapeutic effect and potential adverse effects on the clinical use of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Traditional Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Han-Ning
authors.initials: HN
authors.lastname: Chuang
authors.forename: Jir-You
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jen-Hwey
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Chiu
authors.forename: Tung-Hu
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Sheau-Farn
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Yeh
authors.forename: Shu-Ling
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.forename: Wing-Yiu
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Lui
authors.forename: Chew-Wun
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017931:DNA Primers; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D044950:Flavanones / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008233:Lymphotoxin-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D031364:Scutellaria baicalensis; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D044950:Flavanones; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D008233:Lymphotoxin-alpha; D010936:Plant Extracts; C085514:wogonin