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Extract of Rhus verniciflua Stokes enhances Th1 response and NK cell activity

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Abstract

Rhus verniciflua Stokes (RVS) is a common poison ivy that causes allergic dermatitis. However, it has been used in Korean Medicine as a therapeutic herb, traditionally for the treatment of abdominal masses. Recent studies have demonstrated evidence of anti-tumoral effects by RVS. However, the effect of RVS on tumor-targeting immune cells such as NK cells and helper T cells remains to be verified. The purposes of this study are as follows: (1) determine whether RVS increases NK cell activity and (2) determine whether RVS increases the expression of cytokines, such as IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-4, IL-5, and IL-10, from Th1 and Th2 cells. NK cells and CD4 T-cells from the spleens of BALB/c mice were highly purified using magnetic beads. CD4 T-cells were polarized to Th1-cells by rIL-12 and anti-IL-4 antibody or to Th2-cells by rIL-4 and anti-IL-12 antibody. RVS directly increased NK cell activity in a calcein-AM release assay and augmented IFN-γ and TNF-α secretion from Th1-cells in an ELISA assay. Thus, these results suggest that RVS may stimulate therapeutic immune responses against cancer via NK cells and Th1 cells.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of East-West Medicine, Graduate school, Kyung Hee University, 1 Hoeki-Dong, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, 02454, Republic of Korea

    Eui-joon Lee

  2. Department of Physiology, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, 1 Hoeki-Dong, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, 02454, Republic of Korea

    Gihyun Lee, Sung-Hwa Sohn & Hyunsu Bae

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  1. Eui-joon Lee
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  2. Gihyun Lee
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  3. Sung-Hwa Sohn
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  4. Hyunsu Bae
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Correspondence to Hyunsu Bae.

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These authors contributed equally to this work.

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Lee, Ej., Lee, G., Sohn, SH. et al. Extract of Rhus verniciflua Stokes enhances Th1 response and NK cell activity. Mol. Cell. Toxicol. 12, 399–407 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13273-016-0044-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13273-016-0044-8

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