title: Cho-kyung-jong-ok-tang, a traditional Korean herbal formula induces type 2 shift in murine natural killer cell cytokine production.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cho-kyung-jong-ok-tang (CKJOT) is a traditional Korean herbal formula specifically used for female infertility including unexplained recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The present study aims to evaluate the effects of CKJOT on mouse natural killer (NK) cells to address the possible immunological basis of protective effects of this herbal medicine on unexplained RPL.
  
  
  METHODS
  NK cells isolated from spleens of 6-week-old C57BL/6 mice were differentiated into NK0, NK1, and NK2 cells in the presence of various concentrations of CKJOT-extract. Apoptotic cell number, level of intracellular cytokines, and expression of cytokine-related transcription factors were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  CKJOT had little effect in improving viability of NK0, NK1, and NK2 cells. However, CKJOT addition during NK cell differentiation suppressed the production of interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), and enhanced that of interleukin-5, in the NK1 and NK2 subsets, respectively. T-bet, a transcription factor associated with IFN-γ expression was down-regulated; while Th2 linked transcription factors (STAT6 and GATA3) were up-regulated especially with 100 μg/mL treatment of CKJOT.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The type 2 shift in NK cell-secreted cytokines induced by CKJOT in mouse NK cells may explain the protective effect associated with its traditional use in unexplained RPL.
authors.affiliation: With-Nature Oriental Clinic Group, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Han-Sung
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Kwang-Ho
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Tae-Kyung
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Choon-Hwan
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Soo-Jung
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.forename: Eun-Hui
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Kyoo-Seok
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.forename: Yun-Jae
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Jung
mesh_terms: D000026:Abortion, Habitual / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D050990:GATA3 Transcription Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D015848:Interleukin-5 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D055670:Medicine, Korean Traditional; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D050800:STAT6 Transcription Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology; D020825:T-Box Domain Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D000098815:T-bet Transcription Factor
chemical_list: D050990:GATA3 Transcription Factor; C494748:Gata3 protein, mouse; D015848:Interleukin-5; D010936:Plant Extracts; D050800:STAT6 Transcription Factor; C494100:Stat6 protein, mouse; D020825:T-Box Domain Proteins; D000098815:T-bet Transcription Factor; D007371:Interferon-gamma