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Abstract: In the present paper, the effect of the aqueous extract from aerial parts of Artemisia vestita (AV-ext), a traditional Tibetan medicine, on ear contact sensitivity was examined. AV-ext significantly reduced the ear swelling when administered during the induction phase of picryl-chloride (PCl)-induced ear contact sensitivity in mice. The extract also showed a dose-dependent inhibition on lymphocyte proliferation and IL-2 production in Con A-activated spleen cells. The proliferation inhibition was confirmed in the mixed lymphocytes reaction. Furthermore, the adhesion of the isolated spleen cells from PCl-sensitized mice to type IV collagen was significantly decreased in a dose-dependent manner by AV-ext. Such decrease was also seen in AV-ext-treated Jurkat T cells and the T cells purified from above spleen cells. The purified spleen T cells from PCl-sensitized mice produced more matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) than naive T cells, and AV-ext remarkably reduced MMP-9 production both in vivo and in vitro. These results suggest that AV-ext may alleviate contact sensitivity through blocking the activation of T lymphocytes and decreasing their localization to the inflammatory sites via down-regulating the potential of cell adhesion and metalloproteinase production.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effects of traditional Tibetan medicine, Fructus Lonicerae microphyllae (FLM) on phagecytosis and cytokines production of murine macrophages.METHOD: The phagecytosis of murine macrophages was analyzed by neutral red phagecytosis assay. The activities of IL-1 and TNF-alpha were measured by biological methods. The mRNA of TNF-alpha and INF-gamma expressed by macrophages was detected by RT-PCR. RESULT: The phagecytosis of murine macrophages was significantly enhanced by FLM at a concentration from 1 microg x mL(-1) to 100 microg x mL(-1) and the secretions of IL-1, and TNF-alpha from macrophages were markedly induced by FLM. Meanwhile, FLM also increased the expression of TNF-alpha mRNA and INF-gamma mRHA from macrophages in vitro. CONCLUSION: FLM could promote phagecytosis and cytokines production of murine macrophages.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the immunosuppressive effect of Artemisia vestita Wall Extract (AV-ext) on mice.METHODS: The proliferative reaction of lymphocyte and the mixed lymphocytes reaction were used to determine the effects of AV-ext on the proliferation of mouse splenocyte in vitro and in vivo; Proliferative reaction of mouse splenocyte was used for detecting the effects of AV-ext on the level of IL-2 secreted by mouse activated splenocyte in vitro. Gelatin enzymogram method and adherence analytical method were employed to disclose the effects of AV-ext on mouse activated T-lymphocytes mobility and adherence. RESULTS: 1-100 microg/mL AV-ext exerted no obvious toxicity to mouse splenocyte, but it had obvious inhibitory effect on proliferative reaction of mouse splenocyte and mixed lymphocytes reaction induced by ConA. It also had obvious inhibitory effect on the level of IL-2 secreted by mouse activated splenocyte, on the production of MMP-9 by mouse activated T-lymphocytes, and on adherence. 150 mg/kg and 300 mg/kg of AV-ext, given to mouse per os for 7 days, could inhibit the proliferation of splenocyte and the secretion of MMP-9 by activated splenocyte of mouse. CONCLUSION: AV-ext can inhibit the cellular immune reaction of mouse obviously.