ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the influence of serum containing Qingre Chubi Decoction ( QCD) on the THP-1 cell viability and the release of interleukin 1 beta ( IL-1β) stimulated by monosodium urate crystals in vitro. Methods The cultured human monocyte THP-1 strain were divided into blank serum group, model control group, and high-, middle- and low-concentration ( volume fraction being 20%, 10%, 5%) QCD-containing serum groups. Except for the blank serum group , the other groups were all given 500 mg/L of monosodium urate crystals. On culturing hour 0, 12, 24 and 48, THP-1 cell viability was tested by methy1 thiazolyl tetrazolium celorimetry ( MTS) method. On culturing hour 48, the content of IL-1β in the supernatant of THP-1 cells was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay ( ELISA) . Results The THP-1 cell viability in various groups was increased along with the prolongation of culturing time. The THP-1 cell viability in the model control group was increased as compared with that in the blank serum group at different time points (P<0.05 or P<0.01) . And the content of IL-1β in the model control group was increased significantly as compared with that in the blank serum group on culturing hour 48 (P<0.01) . The THP-1 cell viability in various QCD-containing serum groups on culturing hour 12 and 24, and in high- and middle-concentration QCD-containing serum group on culturing hour 48 was decreased significantly as compared with that of the model control group at the same time point ( P<0.05 or P<0.01) . The content of IL-1β in various serum containing QCD groups was markedly decreased as compared with that in the model control group on culturing hour 48 ( P<0.01) . Conclusion Serum containing QCD can inhibit the viability of THP-1 cells stimulated by monosodium urate crystals, and the possible mechanism is related with the inhibition of IL-1 release.