title: Yu Ping Feng San, an ancient Chinese herbal decoction, regulates the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 and the activity of intestinal alkaline phosphatase in cultures.
abstract: Yu Ping Feng San (YPFS), a Chinese herbal decoction comprising Astragali Radix (AR; Huangqi), Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma (AMR; Baizhu), and Saposhnikoviae Radix (SR; Fangfeng), has been used clinically to treat inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). Previously, we demonstrated a dual role of YPFS in regulating cytokine release in cultured macrophages. In this study, we elucidated the anti-inflammatory effect of YPFS that is mediated through modulating the expression of three key enzymes involved in IBD: inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and intestinal alkaline phosphatase (IALP). In a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced chronic-inflammation model of cultured murine macrophages, YPFS treatment suppressed the activation of iNOS and COX-2 expression in a dose-dependent manner. Conversely, application of YPFS in cultured small intestinal enterocytes markedly induced the expression of IALP in a time-dependent manner, which might strengthen the intestinal detoxification system. A duality of YPFS in modulating the expression of iNOS and COX-2 was determined here. The expression of iNOS and COX-2 in macrophages was induced by YPFS, and this activation was partially blocked by the NF-κB-specific inhibitor BAY 11-7082, indicating a role of NF-κB signaling. These YPFS-induced changes in gene regulation strongly suggest that the anti-inflammatory effects of YPFS are mediated through the regulation of inflammatory enzymes.
authors: Division of Life Science and Centre for Chinese Medicine, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong SAR, China.
authors: Crystal Y Q
authors: CY
authors: Du
authors: Division of Life Science and Centre for Chinese Medicine, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong SAR, China.
authors: Roy C Y
authors: RC
authors: Choi
authors: Division of Life Science and Centre for Chinese Medicine, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong SAR, China.
authors: Tina T X
authors: TT
authors: Dong
authors: Division of Life Science and Centre for Chinese Medicine, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong SAR, China.
authors: David T W
authors: DT
authors: Lau
authors: Division of Life Science and Centre for Chinese Medicine, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong SAR, China.
authors: Karl W K
authors: KW
authors: Tsim
mesh_terms: D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D018938:Caco-2 Cells; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020895:Enterocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy; D007422:Intestines / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; C506362:yu ping feng san; C496319:NOS2 protein, human; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; C496540:PTGS2 protein, human; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase