A polysaccharide-protein complex from Lycium barbarum upregulates cytokine expression in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells

The production of cytokine is a key event in the initiation and regulation of an immune response. Many compounds are now used routinely to modulate cytokine production, and therefore the immune response, in a wide range of diseases, such as cancer. Interleukin-2 and tumor necrosis factor-α are two i...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:European journal of pharmacology 2003-06, Vol.471 (3), p.217-222
Main Authors: Gan, Lu, Zhang, Sheng-Hua, Liu, Qiong, Xu, Hui-Bi
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Bioassay
Biological and medical sciences
Cytokine
Cytokines - genetics
Cytokines - metabolism
Gene expression
Gene Expression Regulation - physiology
Humans
Leukocytes, Mononuclear - metabolism
Lycium - metabolism
Lycium barbarum
Medical sciences
Plant Proteins - genetics
Plant Proteins - metabolism
Polysaccharide-protein complex
Polysaccharides - genetics
Polysaccharides - metabolism
Up-Regulation - physiology
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Summary:The production of cytokine is a key event in the initiation and regulation of an immune response. Many compounds are now used routinely to modulate cytokine production, and therefore the immune response, in a wide range of diseases, such as cancer. Interleukin-2 and tumor necrosis factor-α are two important cytokines in antitumor immunity. In this study, the effects of Lycium barbarum polysaccharide-protein complex (LBP 3p) on the expression of interleukin-2 and tumor necrosis factor-α in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells were investigated by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and bioassay. Administration of LBP 3p increased the expression of interleukin-2 and tumor necrosis factor-α at both mRNA and protein levels in a dose-dependent manner. The results suggest that LBP 3p may induce immune responses and possess potential therapeutic efficacy in cancer.
ISSN:0014-2999
1879-0712
DOI:10.1016/S0014-2999(03)01827-2