The purpose of this research was to investigate effects of Pal-Mul-Tang water extract(PMTE) on cytokines production from immune cells during the late stage of pregnancy in BALB/c mice. PMTE(500㎎/㎏) was administered p.o. once a day for 7 days, and then thymocytes, splenocytes and peritoneal macrophages were separated. At the late stage of pregnant mice, the production of interleukin-2(IL-2) from thymocytes, the production of IL-2 and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) from splenocytes and the production of TNF-α and nitric oxide from peritoneal macrophages were increased as compared with normal group, but the proliferation of thymocytes and splenocytes, the production of interferon-γ (IFN-γ) from thymocytes, the production of interleukin-4(IL-4) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) from splenocytes and the production of IL-1β from peritoneal macrophages were decreased. At the late stage of pregnant mice administered with PMTE, the proliferation of thymocytes and splenocytes, the production of IFN-γ and IL-4 from thymocytes, and the production of nitric oxide from peritoneal macrophages were increased as compared with pregnant group, but the production of IL-2 from thymocytes, the production of IL-2, IL-4 and TNF-α from splenocytes, and the production of TNF-α and IL-1β from peritoneal macrophages were decreased. At the late stage of pregnant mice, the phagocytic activity of peritoneal macrophages was increased and was more increased by the administration of PMTE.
These results suggest that PMTE regulates the production of cytokines from immune cells at the late stage of pregnancy.
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