Expression of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines in brain of atherosclerotic rats and effects of Ginkgo biloba extract.
OBJECTIVE
To study the protein and mRNA expressions of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines in the brain of rats with atherosclerosis (AS) and the effects of Ginkgo biloba extract (GbE) on expressions of cytokines.


METHODS
The experimental model of AS in rats were established by intraperitioneal injection of vitamin D3 with high fat/cholesterol diet. GbE 100 mg/kg was administered to rats by ig. After 8 weeks, the expressions of IL-1beta, TNF-alpha, IL-10, and IL-10R in the brain tissues of AS rats were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay, immunohistochemistry, Western blotting, and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction.


RESULTS
The protein and mRNA expressions of IL-1beta, TNF-alpha, and IL-10 in the brains were markedly higher in AS groups than that in control groups (6.11+/-0.15, 1.55+/-0.14, 0.54+/-0.04 ng/g wet weight vs 0.80+/-0.14, 0.33+/-0.09, and 0.33+/-0.02 ng/g wet weight, respectively). The protein and mRNA expressions of IL-1beta and TNF-alpha in the brains were markedly lower in GbE groups (3.82+/-0.54, 0.95+/-0.08 ng/g wet weight) than that in AS groups, the protein and mRNA expressions of IL-10 and IL-10R in the brains were markedly higher in GbE groups (0.85+/-0.06 ng/g wet weight) than that in AS groups.


CONCLUSIONS
GbE inhibited production of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1beta and TNF-alpha, but up-regulated the production of anti-inflammatory cytokines, IL-10 and IL-10R in brain, which might be related with its anti-AS actions.
Jiao
Ya-Bin
YB
Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, the Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China.
Rui
Yao-Cheng
YC
Li
Tie-Jun
TJ
Yang
Peng-Yuan
PY
Qiu
Yan
Y
D000818:Animals; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D002539:Cerebral Arterial Diseases / Q000378:metabolism*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020441:Ginkgo biloba / Q000737:chemistry; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D018123:Receptors, Interleukin / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D053701:Receptors, Interleukin-10; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics
D016207:Cytokines; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D007375:Interleukin-1; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018123:Receptors, Interleukin; D053701:Receptors, Interleukin-10; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D016753:Interleukin-10