title: Immune stimulatory effects of Loranthi ramulus on macrophages through the increase of NO and TNF-alpha.
abstract: The activation of macrophages by microorganisms plays an important role in host defense and immunopathology. Loranthi ramulus (LR) is commonly used as a traditional drug and health food in Korea. Here, we investigated the regulatory effects of LR on macrophage-mediated immune responses. Treatment of macrophages with LR resulted in the enhanced cell-surface expression of CD80, CD86 and major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II, as well as the enhanced production of nitric oxide (NO) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, and also iNOS and TNF-alpha mRNA expression. These alterations of LR-treated cells were associated with the activation of NF-kappaB and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs). LR increased the phosphorylation of MAPKs (JNK, ERK1/2, p38 MAPK) and the activation of NF-kappaB in Raw 264.7 cells. These results suggest that LR has increased NO and TNF-alpha production through phosphorylation of all three MAPKs following IkappaBalpha degradation and NF-kappaB activation. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that LR can effectively promote the activation of macrophages, suggesting that LR may possess the potential to regulate immune responses.
authors: Department of Infection Biology, Zoonosis Research Center, Wonkwang University School of Medicine, Iksan, South Korea.
authors: Hye Young
authors: HY
authors: Shin
authors: In Ae
authors: IA
authors: Chang
authors: Wen Ji
authors: WJ
authors: Zhang
authors: Youn Chul
authors: YC
authors: Kim
authors: Yong Gab
authors: YG
authors: Yuun
authors: Hyun
authors: H
authors: Park
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D018122:B7-1 Antigen / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology; D051940:B7-2 Antigen / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology; D002460:Cell Line; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology; D020672:I-kappa B Proteins / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D028183:Loranthaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D008262:Macrophage Activation / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D017737:Macrophages, Peritoneal / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D000072000:NF-KappaB Inhibitor alpha; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology*; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D018122:B7-1 Antigen; D051940:B7-2 Antigen; C497965:Cd86 protein, mouse; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D020672:I-kappa B Proteins; D016328:NF-kappa B; C000606205:Nfkbia protein, mouse; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D000072000:NF-KappaB Inhibitor alpha; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; C496317:Nos2 protein, mouse; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases