title: HS-23, a Lonicera japonica extract, reverses sepsis-induced immunosuppression by inhibiting lymphocyte apoptosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Lonicera japonica Thunberg, a widely used traditional Chinese medicine, possesses antibacterial, antiviral, and antiendotoxin activities. This study investigated the molecular mechanisms of HS-23, the ethanol extract of the dried flower buds of L. japonica, on sepsis-induced immunosuppression.
  
  
  METHODS
  Male ICR mice were intravenously administered HS-23 (10, 20, and 40mg/kg) immediately (0h) and 22h after cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). The spleen was isolated for biochemical assays 24h after CLP.
  
  
  RESULTS
  HS-23 improved sepsis-induced mortality. CLP induced a marked decrease in the number of splenocytes, B cells, and natural killer cells, which was attenuated by HS-23. HS-23 also attenuated CLP-induced apoptosis in CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells and inhibited both the intrinsic and extrinsic apoptotic pathway in the spleen. HS-23 attenuated the CLP-induced decrease in interleukin (IL)-17 production. CLP significantly decreased splenic production of tumor necrosis factor-α and IL-2, and these effects were attenuated by HS-23.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings suggest that HS-23 reverses immunosuppression during the late phase of sepsis by inhibiting lymphocyte apoptosis and enhancing Th1 cytokine production. HS-23 warrants further evaluation as a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of sepsis.
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 440-746, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: So-Jin
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 440-746, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Joon-Sung
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 440-746, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hyo-Sun
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Department of Open Innovation, Huons Co., Ltd., Ansan 426-791, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Young-Mok
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Clinical Research Team, Huons Co., Ltd., Ansan, 426-791, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sung-Woon
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.affiliation: Botanical Drug Research Team, Huons Co., Ltd., Ansan, 426-791, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sung Hum
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Yeon
authors.affiliation: Clinical Research Team, Huons Co., Ltd., Ansan, 426-791, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Yeon
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 440-746, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: sunmee@skku.edu.
authors.forename: Sun-Mee
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology; D031239:Lonicera; D008297:Male; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018805:Sepsis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D010936:Plant Extracts; C588038:lonicerae flos
keywords: Immunosuppression; Lonicera japonica; Lymphocyte apoptosis; Sepsis; Th1/Th2 cytokine