Regulatory effects of Codonopsis lanceolata on macrophage-mediated immune responses

Yong Gyu Lee, Joo Young Kim, Ji Yeon Lee, Se Eun Byeon, Eock Kee Hong, Jaehwi Lee, Man Hee Rhee, Hwa Jin Park, Jae Youl Cho

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

57 Scopus citations

Abstract

Codonopsis lanceolata L. has long been used as a folk medicine in Korea, Japan and China for the treatment of lung inflammatory diseases. In this study, therefore, we aimed to demonstrate its ethnopharmacological activity by examining macrophage-function regulating effects. The total methanol extracts of fresh leaves (l-TME) or roots (r-TME) of Codonopsis lanceolata L. significantly suppressed the production of pro-inflammatory mediators (nitric oxide [NO] and tumor necrosis factor [TNF-α]) without altering mRNA levels. The expression of interleukin (IL)-3 and IL-6, however, was strongly diminished. According to the analysis of signaling enzyme activation by immunoblotting, phospho-IκB levels, a representative pro-inflammatory gene activation pathway, were not affected by the TMEs. By contrast, the Raf-ERK signaling pathway, which was involved in regulation of post-translational modification of pro-inflammatory gene products, was strongly blocked after 6-h of exposure. Moreover, l-TME down-regulated LPS-mediated phagocytic uptake and CD29-mediated cell-cell adhesion, while r-TME strongly up-regulated these two cellular events as well as fibronectin-cell adhesion. The surface levels of the costimulatory molecules (CD80 and CD86) of RAW264.7 cells were also enhanced by these extracts. l-TME also diminished functional activation (assessed by NO production) and the surface level of dectin-1, but not toll-like receptor (TLR)-2. Taken together, these data suggest that Codonopsis lanceolata may have the ability to modulate macrophage-mediated immune responses, thus contributing to its anti-inflammatory activity.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)180-188
Number of pages9
JournalJournal of Ethnopharmacology
Volume112
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 30 May 2007

Keywords

  • Campanulaceae
  • Codonopsis lanceolata
  • Immunomodulatory effect
  • Macrophage functions

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