• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.797-807
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• 2007

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to investigate whether Mahwangyunpye-tang(MYT) significantly affects mucin secretion from airway epithelial cells. Methods : Confluent hamster tracheal surface epithelial (HTSE) cells were metabolically radiolabeled with 3H-glucosamine for 24 hrs and chased for 30 min in the presence of MYT to assess the effect of the agent on 3H-mucin secretion. Total elution profiles of control spent media and treatment sample through Sepharose CL-4B column were analyzed. Effect of MYT on contractility of isolated tracheal smooth muscle was investigated; also investigated was effect of the agent on MUC5AC gene expression in cultured NCI-H292 cells. Possible cytotoxicities of the agent were assessed both by measuring lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release from HTSE cells and examining the rate of survival and proliferation of NCI-H292 cells. Results : MYT significantly increased mucin secretion from cultured HTSE cells, without significant cytotoxicity. MYT chiefly affected the 'mucin' secretion. MYT inhibited Acetylcholine-induced contraction of isolated tracheal smooth muscle. MYT did not significantly affect the expression levels of MUC 5AC gene in cultured NCI-H292 cells. Conclusions : Based on the above results, it is suggested that MYT increased mucin secretion from cultured HTSE cells without significant cytotoxicity and inhibited contraction of isolated tracheal smooth muscle.