Rehmannia Glutinosa Pharmacopuncture Solution Regulates Functional Activation, FcεRI Expression, and Signaling Events in Mast Cells

• Main Authors: Kang Kyung-Hwa, Lee Kyung-Hee, Yoon Hyun-Min, Jang Kyung-Jeon, Song Chun-Ho, Kim Cheol-Hong
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Korean Pharmacopuncture Institute 2012-12-01
• Series: Journal of Pharmacopuncture
• Subjects: Rehmannia glutinosa pharmacopuncture solution (RGPS); cytokine; enzyme; FcεRI expression; FcεRI mediated signaling
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.3831/KPI.2012.15.015

Objectives: Rehmannia glutinosa pharmacopuncture solution (RGPS) was investigated to determine both its anti-allergic inflammatory effects on mast cells and its detailed mechanism of actions. Methods: We investigated whether RGPS suppress cytokines, enzymes, FcεRI expression and FcεRI mediated signaling in RBL-2H3 cells stimulated with anti-DNP IgE/DNP-HSA. The suppressive effects of RGPS on the levels of cytokines such as IL-1β, IL-6 and GM-CSF were measured using emzyme-linked immunospecific assay (ELISA). The mRNA expression levels of cytokines, enzymes (HDC2, COX-1, COX-2 and 5LO) and FcεRI αβγ subunits were measured using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RTPCR) method. The activation of FcεRI-mediated signaling was examined using Western blot analyses. Results: RGPS suppressed production of proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, and GM-CSF) in stimulated RBL-2H3 cells significantly (P < 0.05). RGPS also suppressed mRNA expression of inflammatory enzymes (HDC2, COX-1, COX-2, 5LO). In addition, mRNA expression levels of FcεRIα, FcεRIβ and FcεRIγ were lowered by treatment with RGPS. Finally, RGPS prevented phosphrylation of Lyn, Syk, LAT, Gab2, PLC γ1/2, PI3K, Akt, cPLA2 and IκBα. Conclusions: RGPS effectively suppresses mast cell activations such as degranulation and inflammatory response via down-regulation of the FcεRI-mediated signaling pathways in IgE/Ag-stimulated mast cells.