title: In vitro immunomodulatory activities of a newly concocted traditional Chinese medicine formula: VI-28.
abstract: Previous studies have suggested that Vigconic VI-28, an anti-aging traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula containing Radix Ginseng and Cornu Cervi Pantotrichum, possesses immunological efficacy. This in vitro study further investigated the immunomodulatory effects of the hot water extracts of VI-28. The study included (1) colorimetric 5-bromo-2'-deoxy-uridine proliferation ELISA for estimating mitogenicity in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), (2) immunofluorescence staining for measuring the expression of IL-2 receptor alpha (CD25) on lymphocytes, (3) cytometric bead array (CBA) for quantifying cytokine liberation from PBMC, and (4) intracellular immunophenotyping for macrophage phagocytosis and hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) production from monocytes. The results demonstrated that VI-28 (1) could dose-dependently inhibited the proliferation of unstimulated and lipopolysaccharide-activated PBMC but enhanced the proliferation of phytohemagglutinin-activated PBMC at concentrations of <1 mg/mL, (2) significantly augmented the expression of CD25 on lymphocytes at concentrations of 0.4 mg/mL or above (p < 0.05), (3) dose dependently (0.1-1.0 mg/mL) activated macrophage phagocytosis and monocyte synthesis of H(2)O(2) and (4) significantly increased the production of cytokines IL-8, IL-10, IL-12 and IL-1beta at various concentrations of VI-28 (p < 0.05). The results suggest that VI-28 is a potential immunomodulator which probably acts through the activation of lymphocytes and monocytes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Pathology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: S K W
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: C K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: P M K
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Poon
authors.forename: P S P
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Ip
authors.forename: C T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Che
authors.forename: K P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Fung
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Leung
authors.forename: C W K
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Lam
mesh_terms: D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006801:Humans; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000378:metabolism; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit / Q000276:immunology; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D008934:Mitogens / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D009000:Monocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D005894:Panax / Q000737:chemistry; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000187:drug effects; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit; D008934:Mitogens; C492949:vigconic VI-28; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide