title: Immunomodulatory activity of a chymotrypsin inhibitor from Momordica cochinchinensis seeds.
abstract: Serine protease inhibitors are widely distributed in the plant kingdom. Many of them have been purified and characterized from different species. While the physicochemical properties of these protease inhibitors have been extensively investigated, their biological effects, e.g. immunomodulatory effect, remain relatively unexplored. Recently, we isolated a chymotrypsin-specific inhibitor (MCoCI) from the seeds of Momordica cochinchinensis (Lour) Spreng (Family Cucurbitaceae), the traditional Chinese medicine known as Mubiezhi, which has been used as an antiinflammatory agent. In the present study, the effects of MCoCI on different types of cells of the immune system, including splenocytes, splenic lymphocytes, neutrophils, bone marrow cells and macrophages, were investigated. MCoCI was shown to possess immuno-enhancing and antiinflammatory effects. MCoCI could stimulate the proliferation of different cells of the immune system, e.g. splenocytes, splenic lymphocytes and bone marrow cells, in a manner comparable to that of Concanavalin A. Moreover, MCoCI could also suppress the formation of hydrogen peroxide in neutrophils and macrophages. These immunomodulatory effects may explain some of the therapeutic actions of Mubiezhi.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: Alex Yuen-Kam
authors.initials: AY
authors.lastname: Tsoi
authors.forename: Tzi-Bun
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.forename: Wing-Ping
authors.initials: WP
authors.lastname: Fong
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D002918:Chymotrypsin / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D029775:Momordica / Q000737:chemistry / Q000201:enzymology; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012639:Seeds / Q000737:chemistry / Q000201:enzymology; D015842:Serine Proteinase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013154:Spleen / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D010940:Plant Proteins; D015842:Serine Proteinase Inhibitors; D002918:Chymotrypsin