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Immunomodulation in female B6C3F1 mice following treatment with Chai-Ling-Tang, a formula consisting of twelve herbs

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Abstract

Chai-Ling-Tang (CLT) is a traditional Chinese herbal decoction consisting of twelve different herbs, and it has been used to treat a number of immune related disorders. However, the mechanism for its clinical effectiveness was not fully understood. In this study, CLT’s effect on the immune system of female B6C3F1 mice was evaluated by examining the IgM antibody forming cell (AFC) response; natural killer (NK) cell activity; the expression of splenocyte surface markers; concanavalin (Con) A and anti-CD3 antibody-mediated T-lymphocyte proliferation; lipopolysaccharide-mediated-B cell proliferation, and the host resistances to the Listeria monocytogenes bacterial infection and B16F10 melanoma. The results from these studies suggest that the administration of CLT at doses between 400 and 800 mg/kg/day by gavage for 28 days modulates the immune response in female B6C3F1 mice by increasing the number, percentage, and activity of NK cells, both Con A and anti-CD3 antibody-mediated T-cell proliferation, the number of neutrophils, and the host resistance to L. monocytogenes infection. On the other hand, B cell activity was decreased at the 800 mg/kg dose level. In conclusion, CLT produced an enhancement of host resistance to Listeria monocytogenes infection possibly through modulating the function of neutrophils, T cells and NK cells in female B6C3F1 mice using a T regulatory cell-related mechanism.

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Abbreviations

AFC:

antibody forming cell

CLT:

Chai-Ling-Tang

Con A:

concanavalin A

EBSS:

Earle’s Balanced Salt Solution

LPS:

lipopolysaccharide

NK cells:

natural killer cells

sRBCs:

sheep red blood cells

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, PO Box 980613, Richmond, VA, 23298-0613, USA

    Tai L. Guo, Rui P. Chi, Jonathan Fu & Kimber L. White Jr

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  1. Tai L. Guo
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  2. Rui P. Chi
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  3. Jonathan Fu
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  4. Kimber L. White Jr
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Tai L. Guo.

Additional information

This study was supported in part by the NIEHS contract NO1-ES-55538. The authors would like to thank D.L. Musgrove and R.D. Brown for their technical help.

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Guo, T.L., Chi, R.P., Fu, J. et al. Immunomodulation in female B6C3F1 mice following treatment with Chai-Ling-Tang, a formula consisting of twelve herbs. Orient Pharm Exp Med 11, 91–99 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13596-011-0017-3

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