Effects of Lithospermi Radix on anti-CD40- and recombinant interleukin-4-induced cytokine production in murine B-cells

Objectives : In order to study the anti-allegy effect of water extract of Lithospermi Radix on the B-cells from healthy Balb mice. Methods : The cytotoxicity of Lithospermi Radix was measured with the murine normal lung fibroblast cells by modified SRB assay. And the murine splenic B-cells was stimulated with anti-CD40 mAb and r U . The various cytokines related with allergy were measured by flow cytometry and by RT-PCR. Results : The anti-allegy effects to Lithospermi Radix were identified and observed. The cytotoxicity of Lithosptmni Radix on mouse lung fibroblast cells showed no significant activities. Lithospenni Radix had inhibitory effect on CD23, CD69 and IgE expression by Lithospenni Radix with anti-CD40 mAb plus rIL-4-stimdated murine splenic B-cells. Lithospermi Radix had inhibitory effect on cytokines (IL-, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, TNF-) by Lithospermi Radix with anti-CM mAb plus rIL-stimulated murine splenic B-cells. Conclusion : We concluded that Lithospermi Radix showed anti-allegy effect on murine splenic B-cells.