中草藥抗發炎藥效評估篩檢平台之開發—樟芝之抗發炎作用
李金木
中台科技大學
抗發炎及調節免疫功能長久以來一直為許多中草藥的重要藥理作用，既能抗發炎又能增強免疫力為開發中藥複方重要的特色。樟芝是否具有提高人體免疫力的效果，有無可能開發為具免疫調節功效的保健食品，近年來成為生技產業界關切的重點。為求探討樟芝免疫療效與功能，我們曾應用RT-PCR方法配合活體動物模式對樟芝進行評估分析。從免疫細胞基因表現之分子層次觀察到樟芝能增強體內Th1細胞激素(IFN-γ，IL-2)以及巨噬細胞分泌之細胞激素TNF-α等之表現；而應用本實驗室獨特設計的活體動物實驗模式說明了經樟芝增強的免疫功能能在生物體內發揮其療效。然樟芝是否同時具有抗發炎及增強免疫力之功能，目前並不清楚，主要尚未建立標準及有效的評估中草藥抗發炎之研究篩檢平台。本研究計畫擬分析免疫細胞基因表現來探討樟芝調節抗發炎因子的作用，建立能快速篩檢抗發炎中草藥的細胞分子與動物評估模式。利用腹腔注射LPS誘發發炎反應與曼氏血吸蟲感染小鼠引發之急性及慢性發炎等雙重模式，對小鼠Leukocytes之mTREM-1及發炎相關cytokine基因之表現進行比較分析。本研究亦將偵測專一性的mTREM-1蛋白表現指標做為發炎診斷標準，並偵測與發炎相關的細胞激素，如IL-1β、TNF-α、IFN-γ、IL-6、IL-12、MCP等，加以評估其對免疫細胞間的調控關係，以求精確的詮釋樟芝之消炎療效及功能。本計畫將應用活體動物實驗模式來瞭解樟芝能否在生物體內發揮其抗發炎之療效，建立客觀、可信的中藥免疫藥效之評估篩檢平台，有助於未來傳統中草藥在臨床醫療應用之研發。
關鍵字：抗發炎作用；樟芝；TREM-1基因；評估篩檢平台
Development of evaluation model for Chinese herbs against inflammatory responses and anti-inflammatory effects of Antrodia camphorata
Lee, Kin-Mu
Central Taiwan University of Science and Technology
It is well known that Antrodia camphorata have many pharmacological effects such as antidote, anticnesmatic and anti-tumor activities. Studies have shown that it does have antioxidation activity and can inhibit the growth of B hepatitis virus via in vitro experiment. Whether A. camphorata can enhance the host immune response that leads to the promoting longevity and maintaining the health remain unknown. However, the anti-tumor effect of the polysaccharide of A. camphorata was shown to be mediated by potentiating or enhancing immune response. We have previously demonstrated that mice fed orally with A. camphorata responded with enhanced production of a panel of cytokines (IFN-γ、IL-2 and TNF-α) that translated into reduced rate of worm count upon experimental schistosome infection. The main focus of this project is to develop the evaluation model for Chinese herbs against inflammatory reponses and to investigate the efficacy of A. camphorata on the anti-inflammatory effects induced and probable mechanisms of action. The TREM-1 gene and its protein expression will probably provide the most unique markers to investigate the inflammatory responses. To have an in depth understanding of the molecular basis and efficacy of A. camphorata, the detection of gene expression of leukocytes after herb treatment will be performed.
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