title: Protective and immunomodulatory effect of flos Lonicerae japonicae by augmenting IL-10 expression in a murine model of acute lung inflammation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Lonicerae japonicae has shown antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, antioxidant, antiviral, and protective effects in animal models of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effects of Flos L. japonicae (FLJ), a traditional Chinese medicinal herb, on acute lung inflammation induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS), in vivo, using a murine model.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty 6-week-old female BALB/c mice were challenged with intratracheal LPS before treatment with FLJ or vehicle. FLJ was examined for its capacity to influence an LPS-induced increase in IL-10 and decrease in TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 as measured in murine bronchoalveolar lavage (BALF).
  
  
  RESULTS
  FLJ increased nuclear Sp1 binding activity thereby enhancing the expression of IL-10 and decreased nuclear NF-κB binding activities thereby inhibiting the expression of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 in the lung. The up-regulation of Sp1 activity by FLJ was through incremental phosphorylation of ERK. By contrast, the down-regulation of NF-κB activity by FLJ was through suppression of the phosphorylation of IκB, p38, and JNK.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We demonstrated FLJ has protective activity against LPS-induced lung inflammatory cytokine release. Anti-inflammatory cytokine, IL-10, may prove beneficial in the treatment of endotoxin-associated lung inflammation.
authors.affiliation: School of Chinese Medicine, College of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan; Division of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Shung-Te
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Kao
authors.affiliation: Department of Chinese Medicine, Dalin Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, Chia-Yi, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Ching-Ju
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: School of Post-baccalaureate Chinese Medicine, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan; Department of Chinese Medicine, Dalin Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, Chia-Yi, Taiwan. Electronic address: yehcc0530@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Chia-Chou
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Yeh
mesh_terms: D055371:Acute Lung Injury / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology; D002452:Cell Count; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D020672:I-kappa B Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D031239:Lonicera; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism; D009566:Nitrates / Q000378:metabolism; D009573:Nitrites / Q000378:metabolism; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D016329:Sp1 Transcription Factor / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D016207:Cytokines; D020672:I-kappa B Proteins; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D016328:NF-kappa B; D009566:Nitrates; D009573:Nitrites; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016329:Sp1 Transcription Factor; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
keywords: Flos Lonicerae japonicae; Interleukin-10; Interleukin-6; Lung inflammatorn; NF-κB; STAT-3; Sp1