Anti-inflammatory effect of dohongsamultang through inhibition of nuclear factor-kappaB activation in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients with cerebral infarction

Am J Chin Med. 2007;35(3):415-26. doi: 10.1142/S0192415X0700493X.

Abstract

The Korean indigenous medicine "Dohongsamultang (DHSMT)" has long been used for various cerebrovascular diseases. However, the exact mechanism for the anti-inflammatory effect of DHSMT is not completely understood. The aim of the present study is to elucidate how DHSMT modulates the inflammatory reaction in lipopolysaccaride (LPS)-stimulated peripheral mononuclear cells from cerebral infarction (CI) patients. Production and expression of cytokine was measured via the ELISA and RT-PCR methods. The level of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB)/Rel A protein and NF-kappaB DNA binding activity were determined via the Western blot analysis and transcription factor enzyme-linked immunoassay. It showed that DHSMT inhibited the production of TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, and IL-6 induced by LPS in a dose-dependent manner (p < 0.05). The maximal inhibition rates for TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, and IL-6 production by DHSMT were about 50.18%, 32.13%, and 38.03%, respectively. DHSMT inhibited the TNF-alpha mRNA expression in a dose-dependent manner. We also showed that the inhibitory effect of DHSMT is through the suppression of the NF-kappaB pathway. The study suggests an important molecular mechanism by GMGHT to reduce inflammation, which might explain its beneficial effect in the regulation of inflammatory reactions.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / pharmacology*
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Cerebral Infarction / blood*
  • Cerebral Infarction / drug therapy
  • Cytokines / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Cytokines / metabolism
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Leukocytes, Mononuclear / drug effects*
  • Leukocytes, Mononuclear / metabolism
  • Male
  • Medicine, East Asian Traditional
  • Middle Aged
  • NF-kappa B / drug effects*
  • NF-kappa B / metabolism
  • Phosphorylation / drug effects
  • Phytotherapy*
  • RNA, Messenger / drug effects
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • Cytokines
  • NF-kappa B
  • RNA, Messenger