A Study the Effects of Three Preparations of Hirudo on the Expression of Pro-inflammatory Cytokines in Human Bronchial Epithelial Cells Line BEAS-2B

수질(水蛭)의 제법(制法)에 따른 BEAS-2B 인간(人間) 기관지상피세포(氣管支上皮細胞)의 염증유발성(炎症誘發性) Cytokines 발현(發顯)에 미치는 영향(影響)

Backgrounds : In recent years, asthma has become recognized as a chronic inflammatory disease associated pathologically with airway epithelial inflammation and airway remodeling. Objectives : To evaluate the different effects of Hirudo depending upon pharmaceutical manufactures on the expression and the activities of IL-6 and GM-CSF in airway epithelial cells, samples of Hirudo(水蛭), Hirudo toasted with Talcum(水蛭滑石炒) and Hirudo toasted with Ephedrae Herba(水蛭麻黃炒) were tested. Methods : After inducing enhanced messenger RNA(mRNA) expression and secretion of each cytokine by tumor necrosis factor-alpha(10 ng/ml) treatment, cultured human bronchial epithelial cell line BEAS-2B was added to each sample$(l,\;10,\;100\;&\;1000\;{\mu}g/ml)$. Subsequently, DNA activities were analyzed. Specifically mRNA expression and culture supernatants(protein levels) of IL-6 and GM-CSF from BEAS-2B cells, were analyzed using luciferase reporter gene assay, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) analysis and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results : Hirudo toasted with Ephedrae Herba(水蛭麻黃炒) and Hirudo(水蛭) inhibited IL-6 activities in BEAS-2B cells remarkably, and inhibited mRNA expression levels and protein levels in supernatant of IL-6 and GM-CSF at various concentrations, significantly(p<0.05). However, Hirudo toasted with Talcum(水蛭滑石炒) had no effect on mRNA expression levels and showed a slight inhibitory effect on GM-CSF protein levels in supernatant of culture medium. Conclusions : These results strongly suggest that Hirudo toasted with Ephedrae Herba(水蛭麻黃炒) and Hirudo(水蛭) would be serve as effective medicaments in the treatment of airway inflammation and remodeling of asthmatic patients.