抄録
Immune system is our body’s natural defense system to protect us from invaders such as viruses, bacteria and other agents that have the potential to make trouble in body. The present studies evaluated that WK4, herbal extract, could enhance immunostimulating activity such as the phagocytic uptake and release of cytokine secretion in macrophage. Western blot was used to detect the expression of protein related with macrophage activation and examined defense effects of WK4 on bacterial infected mice model. We observed that WK4 enhances phagocytic activity in peritonral macrophages. During the phagocytotic process, production of NO and TNF-a were increase. WK4 significantly induced the phosphorylation of signal molecules of MAPK (ERK, JNK, p38). WK4 was very effective for preventing pathogenic S. Typhimurium infection in mice. Animal weight loss by infection was monitored. The body weight of infectious mice was significantly decreased, but WK4 treated mice exhibited significant improvement in maintaining body weight. When the mice were treated with WK4 for 5 days, the release of TNF-α, IFN-γ and IL-12 were increased significantly compared to the untreated group. After infection, plasma level of IFN-γ , IL-12, TNF-α in WK-4 treated group were higher than infection control group. Higher TNF-α level in treated mice could enhance bactericidal activity synergistically with IFN-γ and trigger nitric oxide production. In conclusion, WK4 enhanced non-specific immune activities and resistance to an experimental challenge with S. Typhimurium infection.
