title: Effects of taurocholic acid on immunoregulation in mice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Currently, there is a dramatically growing interest in Chinese traditional medicines, especially in the therapy of inflammatory diseases. Taurocholic acid (TCA), as a kind of natural bioactive substance of animal bile acid, has medicinal applications to treat a wide range of inflammatory diseases.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The study was designed to evaluate the effects of TCA on cytokine secretion, such as TNF-α and IL-1β and on the ratio of CD4(+)/CD8(+), which is beneficial for understanding the mechanism of TCA on immunoregulation preliminarily, and also will benefit our further research.
  
  
  METHODS
  The gene and protein expressions of TNF-α and IL-1β were measured by real time RT-PCR and ELISA in serum, spleen and lymphocytes respectively. The ratio of CD4(+)/CD8(+) in peripheral blood and lymphocytes was measured by flow cytometry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our present study has shown that lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and cyclosporin A (CsA) could increase or decrease the gene and protein expressions of TNF-α and IL-1β respectively. TCA (0.25g/kg, 0.125g/kg) could recover the suppressed expressions of TNF-α and IL-1β and increase the ratio of CD4(+)/CD8(+). In vitro, TCA (15μg/mL) could inhibit the increased production of TNF-α and IL-1β; TCA (0.15μg/mL-15μg/mL) could inhibit the increased gene expressions of IL-1β and TNF-α. TCA (0.15μg/mL) could recover the suppressed expressions of TNF-α and IL-1β.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The function of immunoregulation of TCA may be accomplished through modulating the gene and protein expressions of TNF-α and IL-1β and elevating CD4(+)/CD8(+) T-cell ratio.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Clinical Diagnosis and Treatment Techniques for Animal Disease, Ministry of Agriculture, Hohhot, China.
authors.forename: Caiyun
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Guan
authors.forename: Saiyinna
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tong
authors.forename: Mingqiang
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Chang
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Ziying
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Chenguang
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Du
authors.forename: Peifeng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D016516:CD4-CD8 Ratio; D002469:Cell Separation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000276:immunology; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007154:Immune System Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D056747:Immunomodulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000276:immunology; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional; D013656:Taurocholic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D013656:Taurocholic Acid; D016572:Cyclosporine