초록
Background : Nowadays asthma is considered to be the inflammatory disease characterized by airway hyperresponsiveness and pulmonary eosinophilia, and mediated by Th lymphocytes expressing the Th2 cytokine pattern. In many recent studies, molecular biological methods have been used to investigate the role of cytokines in pathogenesis and new therapeutic targets of asthma. Objective : We aimed to identify the effect of Armeniacae Arnarum Semen and Platycodi Radix on the transcriptional activities of cytokine IL-4, IL-5 and IL-6 involved in asthma model. Materials and Methods : RBL-2H3 cell lines were used. Cells were stimulated with calcium inophore for maximal gene expression. After 24 hours of Armeniacae Arnarum Semen and Platycodi Radix-treatment, total cellular RNAs were collected using Trizol solution method. Then transcriptional activities of IL-4, IL-S and IL-6 were measured by RT-PCR with electrophoresis. Results : In IL-4 study, Armeniacae Arnarum Semen treated group showed 48.4% of transcriptional activities compared to the control group and Platycodi Radix treated group showed 45.4% of transcriptional activities compared to the control group. In IL-5 study, Armeniacae Arnarum Semen treated group showed 52.7%of transcriptional activities compared to the control group and Platycodi Radix treated group showed 60.2% of transcriptional activities compared to the control group. In IL-6 study, Armeniacae Amarum Semen treated group showed 42.3% of transcriptional activities compared to the control group and Platycodi Radix treated group showed 69.1% of transcriptional activities compared to the control group. Conclusion : This study shows that Armeniacae Arnarum Semen and Platycodi Radix have the inhibitory effect on the transcription of IL-4, IL-5 and IL-6 gene expression in RBL-2H3 cell lines. Advanced studies are required to investigate the mechanisms of inhibition by herbal medicine in asthma model.
