Effects of <i>Samjunghwan</i> on the IL-1β Gene Expression in the Macrophage

Kim, Se-yoon; Jeong, Ji-cheon

The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine > Volume 27(1); 2006 > Article

Original Article

The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine 2006;27(1): 228-236.

三精丸이 대식세포의 면역반응에서 유도되는 IL-1β 유전자의 발현에 미치는 영향

김세윤, 정지천

동국대학교 한의과대학 내과학교실

Effects of Samjunghwan on the IL-1β Gene Expression in the Macrophage

Se-yoon Kim, Ji-cheon Jeong

Dept. of Internal Medicine, College of Oriental Medicine, Dongguk University

Correspondence

Ji-cheon Jeong ,Tel: 054-770-1265, Fax: 054-770-1500, Email: jjcjh@paran.com

Received: February 14, 2006, Accepted: February 28, 2006, Published online: March 30, 2006.

ABSTRACT

Objectives:
Macrophage has an important innate defense role in the immune system. When we are infected with pathogens, macrophage ingests them through phagocytosis or endocytosis, and then secretes many cytokines, such as IL-1, IL-6 and TNFα, which are regulators of immune responses. The aim of this study is to determine how Samjunghwan effects the expression of cytokine and other immune-related genes in macrophages.

Methods :
Cells were treated directly with Samjunghwan and/or LPS at regular intervals. Total RNA of cells was isolated using TRIzol reagent, and the changes in cytokine gene expressions were investigated using RT-PCR, western blot and ELISA.

Results:
IL-1α, IL-1β and COX-2 genes were inducibly expressed specifically by Samjunghwan in macrophage. Especially, IL-1β gene was induced most strongly by treatment with Samjunghwan. Over time, treatment with Samjunghwan showed that the expression levels of IL-1α and IL-1β genes increased from 1 to 4h, and then decreased from 4 to 15h. However, the expression level of COX-2 gene increased continuously up to 11h. IL-1α, IL-1β and COX-2 genes were expressed synergistically by a simultaneous treatment of both Samjunghwan and LPS in macrophages. Secretion levels of translated IL-1β increased continuously up to 11h.

Conclusions:
Though this study is only a start in the investigation of the efficasy of Samjunghwan, these results suggest that Samjunghwan has positive effects on immune responses.

Key words: Macrophage, Cytokine, IL-1β, immune response, Samjunghwan