Xia-bai-san inhibits lipopolysaccharide-induced activation of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and nuclear factor-kappa B in human lung cells.
Xia-bai-san (XBS) is a traditional Chinese medicine that has been used clinically for centuries in Asian countries to treat some types of common cold and asthma-like diseases similar to infantile pneumonia and childhood bronchitis. In previous studies, XBS was found to suppress the inflammatory process induced in lungs of mice treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS).


OBJECTIVE
The present study was undertaken to examine the effects of XBS on LPS-inducible production of inflammatory cytokines, up-regulation of intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), and activation of nuclear factor NF-kappaB in cultured human lung cells.


RESULTS
Extracts of four raw herbs (Cortex mori, Cortex lycii, Radix glycyrrhizae, and Fructus oryzae) were used to prepare the decoction. XBS decreased the histological damage and up-regulation of ICAM-1 observed in lungs of mice treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). In cultured human pulmonary epithelial A549 cells, XBS and its components Morus alba and Glycyrrhiza uralensis suppressed the up-regulation of IL-8 and ICAM-1 in response to LPS. Production of TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, IL-6 and IL-8 by LPS-treated human THP-1 monomyelocytes was also suppressed by XBS. A549 cells expressed ICAM-1 in response to medium from LPS-treated THP-1 cells; expression was decreased by XBS. The adhesion of THP-1 cells to LPS-treated A549 cells were inhibited in the presence of XBS. Activation of NF-kappaB by LPS in A549 cells was suppressed by XBS, Morus alba, and Glycyrrhiza uralensis through inhibition of IkappaB phosphorylation; the concentrations at which suppression occurred were identical to those at which production of inflammatory cytokines and up-regulation of ICAM-1 were inhibited.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings support the hypothesis that XBS, Morus alba, and Glycyrrhiza uralensis inhibit the inflammatory process in lung tissue through suppression of the IkappaB signaling pathway. XBS may prove helpful in the management of asthma, various allergic disorders, sepsis, or any other condition associated with pulmonary inflammation.
Lee
Kuo-Hua
KH
Hsin-Chu Branch Station, Council of Agriculture-TLI, Hsin-Chu, Taiwan, ROC.
Yeh
Ming-Hsien
MH
Kao
Shung-Te
ST
Hung
Che-Ming
CM
Chen
Bor-Chyuan
BC
Liu
Ching-Ju
CJ
Yeh
Chia-Chou
CC
D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018925:Chemokines / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D024202:Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay; D006801:Humans; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000187:drug effects*; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000633:toxicity*; D008168:Lung / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000187:drug effects*; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
D018925:Chemokines; D016207:Cytokines; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D016328:NF-kappa B; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C515858:xia-bai-san; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1