title: A Chinese herbal decoction, Danggui Buxue Tang, activates extracellular signal-regulated kinase in cultured T-lymphocytes.
abstract: Danggui Buxue Tang (DBT) is prepared from Radix Astragali and Radix Angelicae Sinensis. This Chinese herbal decoction has been shown to stimulate the proliferation of T-lymphocytes; however, the action mechanism of this stimulation has not been revealed. In cultured T-lymphocytes, application of DBT markedly induced the cell proliferation, the release of interleukin-2, -6 and -10, as well as the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK). The pre-treatment of ERK inhibitor blocked the DBT-induced immune responses. In addition, the polysaccharide-enriched fraction of DBT showed marked responses on the cultured T-lymphocytes suggesting the important role of DBT polysaccharide in triggering such immune responses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology and Center for Chinese Medicine, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay Road, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Qiu T
authors.initials: QT
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Jerry K H
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Cheung
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Zhi Y
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Glanice K Y
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.forename: Ran
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Duan
authors.forename: Anna W H
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Cheung
authors.forename: Kui J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Roy C Y
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Tina T X
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.forename: Karl W K
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Tsim
mesh_terms: D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects*; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 / Q000378:metabolism*; D010766:Phosphorylation; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D010936:Plant Extracts; C477279:danggui buxue decoction; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3