Leonurus sibiricus induces nitric oxide and tumor necrosis factor-alpha in mouse peritoneal macrophages.
Using mouse peritoneal macrophages, we have examined the mechanism by which Leonurus sibiricus (LS) regulates nitric oxide (NO) production. When LS was used in combination with recombinant interferon-gamma (rIFN-gamma), there was a marked cooperative induction of NO production; however, LS by itself had no effect on NO production. The increased production of NO from rIFN-gamma plus LS-stimulated cells was almost completely inhibited by pretreatment with pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC), an inhibitor of nuclear factor kappaB. Furthermore, treatment of peritoneal macrophages with rIFN-gamma plus LS caused a significant increase in tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) production. PDTC also decreased the effect of LS on TNF-alpha production significantly. Because NO and TNF-alpha play an important role in immune function and host defense, LS treatment could modulate several aspects of host defense mechanisms as a result of stimulation of the inducible nitric oxide synthase.
An
Hyo-Jin
HJ
Department of Oriental Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Wonkwang University, Iksan, Jeonbuk 570-749, Republic of Korea.
Rim
Hong-Kun
HK
Lee
Jong-Hyun
JH
Suh
Se-Eun
SE
Lee
Ji-Hyun
JH
Kim
Na-Hyung
NH
Choi
In-Young
IY
Jeong
Hyun-Ja
HJ
Kim
Il Kwang
IK
Lee
Ju-Young
JY
An
Nyeon-Hyoung
NH
Kim
Hyung-Ryong
HR
Um
Jae-Young
JY
Kim
Hyung-Min
HM
Hong
Seung-Heon
SH
D000199:Actins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D024202:Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay; D004731:Endotoxins / Q000494:pharmacology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000494:pharmacology; D031332:Leonurus / Q000737:chemistry*; D017737:Macrophages, Peritoneal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / Q000096:biosynthesis; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology; D011759:Pyrrolidines / Q000494:pharmacology; D012313:RNA / Q000096:biosynthesis; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D013778:Tetrazolium Salts; D013844:Thiazoles; D013859:Thiocarbamates / Q000494:pharmacology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis*
D000199:Actins; D004731:Endotoxins; D016328:NF-kappa B; D010936:Plant Extracts; D011759:Pyrrolidines; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D013778:Tetrazolium Salts; D013844:Thiazoles; D013859:Thiocarbamates; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; C020972:pyrrolidine dithiocarbamic acid; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D012313:RNA; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; C022616:thiazolyl blue