• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.173-183
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• 2001

Substance P can stimulate secretion of tumor necrosis $factor-\;{\alpha}\;(TNF-\;{\alpha}\;)$ from astrocytes stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Here I report that Chilbogeum can modulate cytokines secretion from primary cultures of rat astrocytes. Chilbogeum $(10\;{\mu}g/ml)$ significantly inhibited the $TNF-\;{\alpha}$ secretion by astrocytes stimulated with LPS and Substance P. Interleukin-1 (IL-1) has been shown to elevate $TNF-\;{\alpha}$ secretion from LPS-stimulated astrocytes while having no effect on astrocytes in the absence of LPS. Treatment of Chilbogeum $(10,\;100\;{\mu}g/ml)$ to astrocytes stimulated with both LPS and Substance P decreased IL-1 secretion significantly. The secretion of $TNF-\;{\alpha}$ by LPS and Substance P in astrocytes was progressively inhibited with increasing amount of IL-1 neutralizing antibody. Upon stimulation from various agents, these cells adopt a reactive phenotype, a morphological hallmark in Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology, during which they themselves may produce still more inflammatory cytokines. Chilbogeum $(10,\;100\;{\mu}g/ml)$ significantly inhibited the $TNF-\;{\alpha}$ secretion by CCF-STTG1 astrocytoma cells stimulated with $A\;{\beta}$ and IL-1. These results suggest that Chilbogeum may inhibit $TNF-\;{\alpha}$ secretion by inhibiting IL-1 secretion and that Chilbogeum has an antiinflammatory activity in AD brain.