A carbohydrate fraction, AIP1, from Artemisia iwayomogi down-regulates Fas gene expression and suppresses apoptotic death of the thymocytes induced by 2,3,7,8-tectrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin

Abstract

Apoptotic death of mouse thymocytes in vitro, as induced by 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), involves the up-regulation of Fas gene expression, while a carbohydrate fraction, AIP1, from Artemisia iwayomogi suppresses the death of thymocytes in culture along with the down-regulation of Fas gene expression. We have now investigated whether the AIP1 fraction modulates TCDD-induced thymocyte death. When treated with TCDD and AIP1 fraction together, the thymocytes do not show apoptosis induced by the TCDD treatment. The AIP1 supplementation to the TCDD treatment also down-regulates the TCDD-induced Fas gene up-regulation. These findings indicate that the AIP1 fraction suppresses TCDD-induced thymocyte apoptosis through the modulation of Fas gene expression.

A Carbohydrate Fraction, AIP1, fromArtemisia IwayomogiReduces the Action Potential Duration by Activation of Rapidly Activating Delayed Rectifier K+Channels in Rabbit Ventricular Myocytes

“…For example, both AIP1 and the ethanol-soluble fraction of the hot-water extract of A. iwayomogi lowered serum total-cholesterol levels and inhibited fibrosis and lipid oxidation in fibrotic rats [9]. Treatment of mouse thymocytes with AIP1 resulted in the suppression of cell death and improved cell survival, by suppression of the Fas/FasLdependent apoptotic pathway [12,13,19]. Furthermore, treatment of mouse spleen cells with the AIP1 fraction suppressed apoptosis via the modulation of apoptosis-related genes [11].…”

“…For example, the AIP1 fraction increased antibody production and suppressed transplanted tumor cell growth [10]. The AIP1 fraction may also be involved in the survival of immune cells, either by suppressing apoptosis or by stimulating cell proliferation [11][12][13]. To date, however, the influence of AIP1 on cardiac function has not been elucidated.…”

A carbohydrate fraction, AIP1 from Artemisia iwayomogi suppresses pulmonary eosinophilia and Th2-type cytokine production in an ovalbumin-induced allergic asthma. Down-regulation of TNF-α expression in the lung

“…The average molecular weight of the mixture is less than 1000 Da based on the high performance size exclusion chromatography (unpublished observations, Youn HJ). The AIP1 fraction has modulatory effects on the expression of several genes in murine thymocytes [34,35]. We are currently trying to identify the active component of AIP1 and to reveal the mechanisms underlying the functions of AIP1.…”

“…The dried extract was dissolved in phosphate buffered saline (PBS), autoclaved and stored at 4°C. AIP1 fraction was isolated from A. iwayomogi as described by Koo et al [33] and Ji et al [35]. Briefly, a water-soluble crude extract was fractionated using sephadex G-50 size exclusion chromatography with distilled water.…”

“…NO synthesized by the action of iNOS and its derivatives such as ONOO − play a detrimental role in inflammation and asthma [32]. AIP1, a water-soluble carbohydrate fraction from A. iwayomogi, showed anti-tumor and immuno-modulating activities [33] and suppressed spontaneous or 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzop-dioxin-induced apoptotic death of mouse thymocytes probably by down-regulating Fas gene expression [34,35].…”