title: A polysaccharide fraction from Achillea millefolium increases cytokine secretion and reduces activation of Akt, ERK and NF-κB in THP-1 monocytes.
abstract: Achillea millefolium has been used in traditional medicine for a number of ailments, including skin inflammation and wounds. A polysaccharide fraction (Am-25-d) isolated from aqueous extract from A. millefolium had an average molecular weight of 270 kDa and a monosaccharide composition of GalA, Gal, Ara, Xyl, Rha in molar ratio of 28:26:23:9:7. THP-1 cells primed with IFN-γ and stimulated with LPS in the presence of Am-25-d secreted more IL-1β, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12p40, IL-23 and TNF-α than THP-1 cells stimulated in the absence of Am-25-d. However, when added to unstimulated cells Am-25-d did not increase secretion of the cytokines examined. Stimulating THP-1 monocytes in the presence of Am-25-d led to decreased nuclear concentrations of NF-κB and phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and Akt kinases compared with that when the cells were stimulated without Am-25-d. These findings indicate that Am-25-d isolated from A. millefolium has immunoenhancing properties that may be mediated via the Akt pathway.
authors.affiliation: Center for Rheumatology Research, Landspitali-The National University Hospital of Iceland, Eiriksgata, 101 Reykjavik, Iceland; Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Biomedical Center, University of Iceland, Eiriksgata, 101 Reykjavik, Iceland; Department of Immunology, Landspitali-The National University Hospital of Iceland, Eiriksgata, 101 Reykjavik, Iceland. Electronic address: jonaf@landspitali.is.
authors.forename: Jona
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Freysdottir
authors.affiliation: Center for Rheumatology Research, Landspitali-The National University Hospital of Iceland, Eiriksgata, 101 Reykjavik, Iceland; Department of Immunology, Landspitali-The National University Hospital of Iceland, Eiriksgata, 101 Reykjavik, Iceland; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Biomedical Center, University of Iceland, Vatnsmyrarvegur 16, 101 Reykjavik, Iceland. Electronic address: othl1@hi.is.
authors.forename: Oddny T
authors.initials: OT
authors.lastname: Logadottir
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Iceland, Hofsvallagata, 107 Reykjavik, Iceland. Electronic address: sesselo@hi.is.
authors.forename: Sesselja S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Omarsdottir
authors.affiliation: Center for Rheumatology Research, Landspitali-The National University Hospital of Iceland, Eiriksgata, 101 Reykjavik, Iceland. Electronic address: arnor@landspitali.is.
authors.forename: Arnor
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vikingsson
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Biomedical Center, University of Iceland, Vatnsmyrarvegur 16, 101 Reykjavik, Iceland. Electronic address: ih@hi.is.
authors.forename: Ingibjorg
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hardardottir
mesh_terms: D031162:Achillea / Q000737:chemistry*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000378:metabolism; D053762:Interleukin-12 Subunit p40 / Q000378:metabolism; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 / Q000378:metabolism*; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism*; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C000614035:Am-25-d compound; D016207:Cytokines; C508609:IL10 protein, human; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D053762:Interleukin-12 Subunit p40; D016328:NF-kappa B; D011134:Polysaccharides; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D016753:Interleukin-10; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; C535150:MAPK1 protein, human; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3
keywords: Achillea millefolium; Cytokines; MAP kinases; Polysaccharide; THP-1 cells