Effect of Jihwangpyeongcheon-tang on Expression of Chemokines in Human Mast Cell Line

Lee, Kyung-Ki; Jung, Hee-Jae; Rhee, Hyung-Koo; Jung, Sung-Ki

The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine > Volume 23(3); 2002 > Article

Original Article

The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine 2002;23(3): 375-385.

사람 비만세포주에서의 케모카인에 대한 지황평천탕의 효과

이경기, 정희재, 이형구, 정승기

경희대학교 한의과대학 폐계내과학교실

Effect of Jihwangpyeongcheon-tang on Expression of Chemokines in Human Mast Cell Line

Kyung-Ki Lee, Hee-Jae Jung, Hyung-Koo Rhee, Sung-Ki Jung

Division of Respiratory System, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Oriental Medicine, Kyung-Hee University

Correspondence

Kyung-Ki Lee ,Tel: 02-831-4410, Fax: 02-834-02643, Email: hanbang114@yahoo.co.kr

Received: July 25, 2002, Accepted: August 31, 2002, Published online: September 30, 2002.

ABSTRACT

Objectives:
We aimed to identify the effect of Jihwangpyeongcheon-tang on expression of chemokines were examined by RT-PCR using the human mast cell line (HMC-ℓ ).

Materials and Methods :
HMC- ℓ cell lines were used. In order to investigate the protective effect of Jihwangpyeongcheon-tang, HMC- ℓ cells were incubated with pretreatment of Jihwangpyeongcheon-tang for 24 h. RT-PCR analyses of chemokine genes of cells pretreated with Jihwangpyeongcheon-tang showed that expressions of IL-8, MIP-1β , and RANTES genes in these cells were lower and MIP-1β was similar pattern compared to the calcium ionophore-treated group. In addition, cytotoxicity concentration measurement was performed by MTT assay method.

Results:
After stimulation with 1 uM calcium ionophore A23178 for 2 hours, IL-8, major one of CXC chemokines, was highly expressed, and expression of MIP-1 and RANTES (CC chemokines) were increased, while expression of MIP-1β was not changed. The cytotoxicity of Jihwangpyeongcheon-tang with treatment of various concentrations and times was not observed.

Conclusions:
This study shows that Jihwangpyeongcheon-tang has dose-dependent inhibitory effects on the mRNA expression of IL-8(CXC chemokines), MIP-1β and RANTES(CC chemokines) in human mast cell line(HMC-ℓ ). So these herbal medicines may inhibit the inflammatory process of asthma. Advanced studies are required to investigate the mechanisms of inhibition by herbal medicine in the asthma model. such studies would provide important basic data on the possibility of the clinical treatment by using Jihwangpyeongcheon-tang in allergic disorders.

Key words: Jihwangpyeongcheon-tang(Dìhuángpìngchuan-ta - ng), Asthma, Interleukin-8, Macrophage Inflammatory Protein-1, RANTES