Vaginal innate immune mediators are modulated by a water extract of Houttuynia cordata Thunb

Abstract

BackgroundVaginal epithelial cells (VECs) produce antimicrobial peptides including human β-defensin 2 (hBD2) and secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI), as well as cytokines and chemokines that play vital roles in mucosal innate immunity of the female reproductive tract. Houttuynia cordata Thunb (H. cordata), a herbal plant found in Asia, possesses various activities including antimicrobial activity and anti-inflammation. As inflammation and infection are commonly found in female reproductive tract, we aimed to investigate the effects of H. cordata water extract in modulating innate immune factors produced by VECs.MethodsPrimary human VECs were cultured and treated with H. cordata at a concentration ranging from 25–200 μg/ml for 6 or 18 h. After treatment, the cells and culture supernatants were harvested. The expression of hBD2 and SLPI mRNA was evaluated by quantitative real-time reverse transcription PCR. Levels of secreted hBD2 and SLPI as well as cytokines and chemokines in the supernatants were measured by ELISA and Luminex assay, respectively. Cytotoxicity of the extract on VECs was assessed by CellTiter-Blue Cell Viability Assay.ResultsH. cordata did not cause measurable toxicity on VECs after exposure for 18 h. The expression of hBD2 and SLPI mRNA as well as the secreted hBD2 protein were increased in response to H. cordata exposure for 18 h when compared to the untreated controls. However, treatment with the extract for 6 h had only slight effects on the mRNA expression of hBD2 and SLPI. The secretion of IL-2 and IL-6 proteins by VECs was also increased, while the secretion of CCL5 was decreased after treatment with the extract for 18 h. Treatment with H. cordata extract had some effects on the secretion of IL-4, IL-8, CCL2, and TNF-α, but not statistically significant.ConclusionsH. cordata water extract modulates the expression of antimicrobial peptides and cytokines produced by VECs, which play an important role in the mucosal innate immunity in the female reproductive tract. Our findings suggest that H. cordata may have immunomodulatory effects on the vaginal mucosa. Further studies should be performed in vivo to determine if it can enhance mucosal immune defenses against microbial pathogens.

Dehydroandrographolide enhances innate immunity of intestinal tract through up-regulation the expression of hBD-2

“…Especially for those associated with a high level of hBD-2 gut inflammation such as Crohn’s disease [ 33 , 34 ]. Immune mediators often have dual-direction regulation like the water extract of Houttuynia cordata Thunb [ 35 ] and paeoniflorin,which could upregulate β-defensin-2 expression in human bronchial epithelial cell at the same time downregulated β-defensin-2 expression in mice colonic mucosa with oxazolone-induced colitis [ 36 ]. The existing evidences have described DA is a immune mediator.…”

Afzelin ameliorates D‐galactosamine and lipopolysaccharide‐induced fulminant hepatic failure by modulating mitochondrial quality control and dynamics

“…Afzelin (kaempferol 3‐ O ‐rhamnoside) is a flavonol glycoside found in Houttuynia cordata Thunberg and is widely used in the preparation of antibacterial and antipyretic agents, detoxicants and for the treatment of inflammation (Satthakarn et al, ). Recently, H. cordata extract protected the liver injury caused by a high‐fat diet and acetaminophen in rodent models (Chen et al, ; Kang and Koppula, ).…”

Conditional reprogramming: next generation cell culture

“…The eligibility of CR to immortalize a wide range of epithelial cells of varied origins has been proved by many researches. Primary cells from both normal and pathological tissues can be proliferated under CR conditions ( Table 2 12 , 25 , 69 , 83 , 100 , 101 , 102 , 103 , 104 , 105 , 106 , 107 , 108 , 109 , 110 , 111 , 112 , 113 , 114 , 115 , 116 , 117 , 118 , 119 , 120 , 121 , 122 , 123 , 124 , 125 , 126 , 127 , 128 , 129 , 130 , 131 , 132 , 133 , 134 , 135 , 136 , 137 , 138 , 139 , 140 , 141 , 142 , 143 , 144 , 145 ). Of particular note, not only human tissues but also tissues from other origins such as mouse, horse, dog and fish have been used for CR culture.…”

“… Establishment of a cell line for studying disease pathobiology 135 Human normal tissue (vaginal repair surgery) 3 CR primary vaginal epithelial cells are used for evaluating immunomodulatory effect of Houttuynia cordata. Drug evaluation 136 Bladder Human tumor tissue (radical cystectomy or transurethral resection) 8 CR bladder cancer cell lines are successfully established which are used for drug sensitivity test. Drug sensitivity test 137 Skin Human skin biopsy Not mentioned CR keratinocytes are genetically edited by CRISPR/Cas9, showing an important role of NLRP1 inflammasome upon UV sensing.…”

“…Moreover, treatment of CR vaginal epithelial cells by a Houttuynia cordata extract found that H. cordata regulated mucosal innate immunity via influencing expression of antimicrobial peptides and cytokines in female vaginal epithelial cells. The CR vaginal epithelial cells served as an in vitro model for assessment of drug effect 136 . In addition, Pollock et al.…”