title: Effects of Bupleurum falcatum and its combination with an angiotensin II receptor blocker on cytokine and chemokine expression in human mesangial cells.
abstract: This study aimed to investigate the inhibitory effect of Bupleurum falcatum and its combination with angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) on cytokine and chemokine production in cultured human mesangial cells. Human mesangial cells were isolated and cultured in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium culture medium. Bupleurum falcatum, ARB, and the combination of the two were added to human mesangial cells. Cytokine and chemokine levels were analysed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. There were no significant differences in the expression of IL-1ss, IL-2 or TNF-a between controls and the experimental groups. However, IL-11 and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) levels were significantly reduced in response to ARB, Bupleurum falcatum, or their combination when compared with controls. IL-8 expression was reduced significantly only in cells treated with ARB. Both Bupleurum falcatum and ARB treatments alone reduced the cytokine concentration, but there was not a stronger reduction when the two drugs were combined. It was shown that Bupleurum falcatum inhibited cytokine production in human mesangial cells. However, there were no additive effects on the suppression of cytokine production when Bupleurum falcatum was combined with ARB. Further studies are needed to elucidate the renoprotective effects of Bupleurum falcatum.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, East West Kidney Diseases Research Institute, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Byoung-Soo
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Sung-Do
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jae-Kyung
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Joo-Ho
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Mee-Suk
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Byung-Cheol
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Chun-Gyoo
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Ihm
mesh_terms: D047228:Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology*; D029972:Bupleurum / Q000737:chemistry*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018925:Chemokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D041743:Herb-Drug Interactions; D006801:Humans; D050527:Mesangial Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D047228:Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers; D018925:Chemokines; D016207:Cytokines; D010936:Plant Extracts