ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Korean mistletoe (Viscum album) extract has been found to posses immunostimulatory activity. In this study, Korean mistletoe extract, M11C (non-lectin components), was used to know whether this extract might activate mouse peritoneal macrophages to produce interleukin 1 beta (IL-1 beta). METHODS: Hemagglutination assay was carried out to examine whether M11C contained a lectin or not . To know the effect of M11C on the production of IL-1 beta, the macrophages were treated by the M11C, and then collected the supernatant (M11C stimulated macrophages-conditioned media; MMCM). MMCM was analyzed for the IL-1 beta quantification and mRNA expression by means of ELISA and RT-PCR, respectively. RESULTS: Maximum effective dose and time of M11C on IL-1 beta production from macrophages were 20 micro gram/ml and 8 hours, respectively . This ELISA data was reconfirmed by immunoblotting assay . indicating that M11C is a good candidate for an immunomodulator. The dose and time dependent effect s of M11C on the expression of IL-1 beta mRNA from macrophages was also shown in expression of mRNA detected by RT-PCR. Treatment dose and time for the maximum expression of IL-1 beta mRNA were 20 micro gram/ml and 4 hours, respectively . Maximum gene expression of IL-1 beta was much earlier than maximum production of it. CONCLUSION: As results, Korean mistletoe extract, M11C, may be used for an immunomodulator. This will be able to make up for and solve the problems caused by existent immunoagent with many adverse effects through many other studies in future including one molecule extraction.