Bambusae caulis in Liquamen suppresses the expression of thymus and activation-regulated chemokine and macrophage-derived chemokine in human keratinocytes due to antioxidant effect

Abstract

Bambusae caulis in Liquamen (BCL), traditional herbal medicine used in East Asia, is known to have antioxidative and immune-regulating properties. We hypothesized that the potential antioxidant effects of BCL might suppress the production of thymus and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC) and macrophage-derived chemokine (MDC) in human keratinocytes (HaCaT cell). The immune-regulating effect of BCL was demonstrated by antioxidant capacity using DPPH analysis and DCFH-DA analysis. We found that BCL had strong ROS scavenge effect in HaCaT cell. BCL also showed suppression of IFN - γ induced expression of TARC and MDC, activation of NF-κB, and, moreover, significant block of IFN - γ induced degradation and phosphorylation of IB. However, it had no effects on phosphorylation of p38 MAPK. Collectively, these results suggest that BCL may have a therapeutic potential on skin disease such as atopic dermatitis by inhibiting Th2 chemokines which is due, at least in part, to its antioxidant capacities. Copyright © 2012 Xu-Feng Qi et al.