Interferon-mediated antiviral activities of Angelica tenuissima Nakai and its active components
JOURNAL OF MICROBIOLOGY
Authors: Weeratunga, Prasanna; Uddin, Md Bashir; Kim, Myun Soo; Lee, Byeong-Hoon; Kim, Tae-Hwan; Yoon, Ji-Eun; Ma, Jin Yeul; Kim, Hongik; Lee, Jong-Soo
Abstract
Angelica tenuissima Nakai is a widely used commodity in traditional medicine. Nevertheless, no study has been conducted on the antiviral and immune-modulatory properties of an aqueous extract of Angelica tenuissima Nakai. In the present study, we evaluated the antiviral activities and the mechanism of action of an aqueous extract of Angelica tenuissima Nakai both in vitro and in vivo. In vitro, an effective dose of Angelica tenuissima Nakai markedly inhibited the replication of Influenza A virus (PR8), Vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV), Herpes simplex virus (HSV), Coxsackie virus, and Enterovirus (EV-71) on epithelial (HEK293T/HeLa) and immune (RAW264.7) cells. Such inhibition can be described by the induction of the antiviral state in cells by antiviral, IFN-related gene induction and secretion of IFNs and pro-inflammatory cytokines. In vivo, Angelica tenuissima Nakai treated BALB/c mice displayed higher survivability and lower lung viral titers when challenged with lethal doses of highly pathogenic influenza A subtypes (H1N1, H5N2, H7N3, and H9N2). We also found that Angelica tenuissima Nakai can induce the secretion of IL-6, IFN-lambda, and local IgA in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of Angelica tenuissima Nakai treated mice, which correlating with the observed prophylactic effects. In HPLC analysis, we found the presence of several compounds in the aqueous fraction and among them; we evaluated antiviral properties of ferulic acid. Therefore, an extract of Angelica tenuissima Nakai and its components, including ferulic acid, play roles as immunomodulators and may be potential candidates for novel anti-viral/anti-influenza agents.
Refractory anaemia with ringed sideroblasts concurrent with multiple myeloma - a brief review of the recent literature
HAEMATOLOGIA
Authors: Shibata, K; Shimamoto, Y; Nakazato, S; Matsuzaki, M; Tadano, J
Abstract
The report describes a patient in whom myelodysplastic syndrome and multiple myeloma (MM) were simultaneously present. This patient manifested an IgA-lambda type of MM concurrent with a refractory anaemia with ringed sideroblasts (RARS) without prior therapy. His bicytopenia could not be improved by vitamin B6 regardless of a reduced serum vitamin B6 concentration. A review of the literature suggests that myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), chronic neutrophilic leukaemia (CNL) and idiopathic myelofibrosis (IMF) are the most frequent disorders associated with MM. The IgA type seems to be associated more commonly with these disorders. The mechanisms responsible for the development of plasma cell proliferation are diverse; the neoplastic transformation of a common progenitor, the involve ment of the lymphoplasmacytic system and/or chronic reticuloendothelial stimulation may play a role in the occurrence of such hybrid haematological disorders.