Abstract
Objectives: We aimed to identify the dose-dependent inhibitory effects of Maekmundongcheongpye-eum and Liriopis Tuber on the mRNA expression of IL-6, IL-16, GM-CSF involved in the asthma model. Methods: In the study BEAS-2B cell lines, human epithelial cells were used. These cells were stimulated with tumor necrosis factor $(TNF)-{\alpha}$ for artificial inflammatory expression. ${\beta}-actin$ messenger RNA (mRNA) was used by internal standard. After 24 hours of Maekmundongcheongpye-eum, Liriopis Tuber-treatment, total cellular RNAs were collected, treating RNAzol directly on the alive cells. Then the transcriptional activities of IL-6, 16, GM-CSF were measured by RT-PCR with electrophoresis. Results: In the Maekmundongcheongpye-eum study, the mRNA expression of IL-6 showed 48% transcriptional inhibitory effect compared to the control group in the $100{\;}{\mu}l/ml$ category (P<0.001). In the IL-16, there was 53% and 57% transcriptional inhibitory effect compared to the control group in the $20{\;}{\mu}l/ml$ and $100{\;}{\mu}l/ml$ categories (P<0.001). In the GM-CSF, there was no inhibitory effect. In the Liriopis Tuber study, the mRNA expression of IL-6 showed 43% transcriptional inhibitory effect compared to the control group in the $100{\;}{\mu}l/ml$ category (p<0.005). In the IL-16, 34% and 26% of transcriptional inhibitory effect was shown compared to the control group in the $20{\;}{\mu}l/ml$ and $100{\;}{\mu}l/ml$ categories, respectively (P<0.05). In the GM-CSF, there was no inhibitory effect. Conclusions: This study shows that Maekmundongcheongpye-eum and Liriopis Tuber have dose-dependent inhibitory effects on the mRNA expression of IL-6 and IL-16 in BEAS-2B cell lines, human epithelial cells. Advanced studies are required to investigate the mechanisms of inhibition by herbal medicine in the asthma model.