Effect of Reduqing () on endotoxin-lnduced production of tissue factor and cytokines in human whole blood) on endotoxin-lnduced production of tissue factor and cytokines in human whole blood

Abstract

Objective: To study the effect of Reduqing (RDQ) Injection on the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced tissue factor and cytokine production in whole blood. Methods: Heparinized human blood was incubated with LPS in the presence or absence of RDQ. The plasma concentrations of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-8 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) and the monocyte tissue factor activity was measured by a one-stage tissue factor induced plasma clotting time assay. Results: RDQ was found to diminish the LPS-induced increase of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 in plasma but did not completely abolish their production. In contrast to the effect on these cytokines, RDQ caused further increase of the plasma level of IL-8 and the monocyte TF activity in the presence of LPS. Conclusions: In the in vitro whole blood assay system used in this study, the decrease of LPS-induced production of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 was similar to a previousin vivo study on the effect of RDQ on the production of these cytokines in response to two-time LPS injection in rabbits, while the increase of IL-8 and TF production was contradictory to the previous in vivo study. Potential reasons contributing to the differences are discussed.