title: Evaluation of the immunomodulatory properties in mice and in vitro anti-inflammatory activity of cycloartane type saponins from Astragalus species.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Astragalus roots are used to treat leukemia and for their wound healing properties in Southeast Anatolia-Turkey.
  
  
  METHODS
  In vivo studies to investigate the effects of two Astragalus saponins were carried out on the immune response cytokines by using six to eight weeks old male Swiss albino mice. The production of IL-1β, TGF-1β, TNF-α, IL-2, IL-4 and IFN-γ cytokines was determined by ELISA. The spleen and lymph nodes, isolated from the mice subjects, were analyzed to realize induction of the surface antigen productions for IL-2Rα (CD25) and CD69. In addition, their effects on the targets of inflammation such as NF κB, iNOS and NAG-1 were investigated in cell-based assays.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results suggested that AST VII and Mac B had positive effect on Th1 cytokine release (IL-2 and IFN-γ), and suppression on Th2 cytokine production (IL-4). The immunohistochemical results exhibited induction of both IL-Rα (CD25) and CD69 surface receptors justifying the Th1 cytokine release. The compounds did not affect NF-κB or NAG-1 activity but iNOS activity was inhibited by Mac B with an IC(50) of 156 μg/ml.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results show that Ast VII and Mac B create powerful immunoregulatory effects without the stimulation of inflammatory cytokines in mice, and have no significant effect on the inflammatory cellular targets in vitro.
authors.affiliation: Ege University, Faculty of Engineering, Bioengineering Department, Bornova, Izmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ayşe
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nalbantsoy
authors.forename: Tuna
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nesil
authors.forename: Ozlem
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Yılmaz-Dilsiz
authors.forename: Güzide
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Aksu
authors.forename: Shabana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: Erdal
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bedir
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000378:metabolism; D027883:Astragalus Plant / Q000737:chemistry; D018938:Caco-2 Cells; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D055436:Growth Differentiation Factor 15 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D019073:HT29 Cells; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism; D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit / Q000378:metabolism; D037181:Lectins, C-Type / Q000378:metabolism; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D012503:Saponins / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013154:Spleen / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D014162:Transfection; D014315:Triterpenes / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000099192:CD69 Antigens
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D015703:Antigens, CD; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D016207:Cytokines; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D055436:Growth Differentiation Factor 15; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D016328:NF-kappa B; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012503:Saponins; D014315:Triterpenes; D000099192:CD69 Antigens; C526141:Gdf15 protein, mouse; C508018:Il2ra protein, mouse; C085352:cycloartane; C496317:Nos2 protein, mouse