title: Oral administration of aqueous extract of Carthami Flos induces macrophage activation and preferentially potentiates type 1 helper T-cell response in vivo.
abstract: In vivo immunomodulatory activity of aqueous extract of Carthami Flos (AECF) was investigated using a mouse model immunized with keyhole limpet hemocyanin. Serum level of Ag-specific IgG2a was significantly elevated by oral administration of AECF but not IgG1. However, no selective B-cell proliferation by AECF was observed in vivo. Ag-specific proliferation and IFN-gamma and IL-5 production of draining lymph node T cells also was higher in AECF-treated mice when compared with water-treated control mice. However, AECF failed to enhance nonspecific T-cell response under CD3 stimulation. These results led us to hypothesize that AECF potentiates Ag-specific T-cell response, possibly through activation of antigen presenting cells (APC) other than B cells. Functional assessment of splenic macrophages showed that AECF administration significantly enhances IL-12 production as well as APC activity for IFN-gamma production and STAT-4 activation by T cells. Collectively, these data strongly support that AECF preferentially potentiates immune response polarized toward TH1 and for which increased activation of macrophages is most likely to be responsible. The present data implicate a possible application of AECF to potentiate cellular immunity and, we hope, prevent intracellular infections.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Science, School of Science and Technology, Jeonju University, Jeonju, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Youn-Hwa
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Jeong-Su
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Do
authors.forename: Hyo-Jung
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Seo
authors.forename: Jin-Ki
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Jun-Hee
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Eun-Jung
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Sang-Yun
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Nam
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000187:drug effects*; D007114:Immunization; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D008262:Macrophage Activation / Q000187:drug effects*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology; D010944:Plants / Q000737:chemistry*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D010936:Plant Extracts