Zingansikpoongtang modulates β-amyloid and IL-1β-induced cytokine production and cyclooxygenase-2 expression in human astrocytoma cells U373MG

Zingansikpoongtang (ZST) is a Korean herbal prescription, which has been successfully applied for the various neurodegenerative diseases. However, its effect remains unknown in the experimental models. In this study, we examined the effect of ZST on production of interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-8, and expression of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 in IL-1β and β-amyloid [25-35] fragment (Aβ)-stimulated human astrocytoma cell line U373MG. We examined the biological effects of ZST in U373MG cells using MTT assay, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and Western blotting. ZST alone had no effect on the cell viability. The production of IL-6 and IL-8 was dose-dependently inhibited by pretreatment with ZST (0.01-1 mg/ml) on IL-1β and Aβ-stimulated U373MG cells. The expression level of COX-2 protein was up-regulated by IL-1β and Aβ, but the increased level of COX-2 was partially down-regulated by pretreatment with ZST (1 mg/ml). These data indicate that ZST has a modulatory effect of cytokine production and COX-2 expression on IL-1β and Aβ-stimulated U373MG cells, which might explain its beneficial effect in the treatment of various neurodegenerative diseases.