Effects of Paeonia lactiflora root extracts on the secretions of monocyte chemotactic protein-1 and -3 in human nasal fibroblasts.

In the field of Oriental medicine, the root of Paeonia lactiflora (Paeoniae Radix) has been prescribed usually to treat the common cold, and it was thought to alleviate upper respiratory infection or nasal inflammation. Monocyte chemotactic proteins (MCP)-1 and MCP-3 are known as the most potent chemokines to mediate allergic inflammation. The object of the study was to investigate the effect of Paeoniae Radix on the release of the chemokines such as MCP-1 and MCP-3. To detect the secretion of MCPs, an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was performed for human nasal mucosal fibroblasts after stimulation with several cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta). The secretion of MCP-1 was increased after stimulation with TNF-alpha or IL-1beta treatment. Co-treatment of TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma, or IL-1beta and IFN-gamma increased the secretion of MCP-1 and MCP-3. Paeoniae Radix was tested with inflammatory cytokines, and the results showed that the Paeoniae Radix significantly decreased the secretion of MCP-1 and MCP-3. In our study, Paeoniae Radix may play an important role in nasal inflammation with a modulation of MCP-1 and MCP-3.