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.
Department of Oriental Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Wonkwang University, Iksan, Jeonbuk 570-749, Republic of Korea.
Hyo-Jin
HJ
An
Hong-Kun
HK
Rim
Jong-Hyun
JH
Lee
Se-Eun
SE
Suh
Ji-Hyun
JH
Lee
Na-Hyung
NH
Kim
In-Young
IY
Choi
Hyun-Ja
HJ
Jeong
Il Kwang
IK
Kim
Ju-Young
JY
Lee
Nyeon-Hyoung
NH
An
Hyung-Ryong
HR
Kim
Jae-Young
JY
Um
Hyung-Min
HM
Kim
Seung-Heon
SH
Hong
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