[Effects of Astragalus membranaceus on cytokine secretion of peripheral dendritic cells in children with Henoch-Schonlein purpura in the acute phase].
OBJECTIVE
To explore the effects of Astragalus membranaceus (AM) on the cytokines secretion of peripheral dendritic cells (DC), including interleukin-10, -12, and -18 (IL-10, IL-12 and IL-18), in children with Henoch-Schonlein purpura (HSP) in the acute phase; and to study the immunological regulation mechanism of AM.


METHODS
Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were obtained from 28 children with acute HSP by density gradient centrifugation, and each sample was divided into two parts, one untreated and one treated with AM. All cells were developed to mature DC through treating with recombinant human granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF), interleukin-4 (IL-4) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha). Expression of CD83 in the surface of mature DC was detected by flow cytometry, and levels of IL-10, IL-12 and IL-18 in the supernatant were measured by ELISA.


RESULTS
The supernatant level of IL-12 was higher [(141.58 +/- 100.19) ng/L vs (96.18 +/- 76.65) ng/L, t = 3.90, P<0.01], while levels of IL-10 and IL-18 were lower (t = 2.70, P<0.05; t = 4.07, P<0.01) in AM treated PBMCs than those in the untreated ones.


CONCLUSIONS
AM can correct the immunologic dysfunction of HSP children through increasing the IL-12, and decreasing the IL-10 and IL-18 secretions of PBMCs.
Wang
Juan
J
Department of Pediatrics, the Affiliated Hospital of Medical College, Qingdao University, Shandong.
Zhang
Qiu-Ye
QY
Chen
Yong-Xing
YX
D000293:Adolescent; D027885:Astragalus propinquus; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011695:IgA Vasculitis / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000097:blood; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000097:blood; D020382:Interleukin-18 / Q000097:blood; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male
D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D020382:Interleukin-18; D016753:Interleukin-10; D018664:Interleukin-12