J Cancer Prev.  2016 Sep;21(3):144-151. 10.15430/JCP.2016.21.3.144.

The Immunomodulatory Activity of Mori folium, the Leaf of Morus alba L., in RAW 264.7 Macrophages In Vitro

• Kwon DH
• Cheon JM
• Choi EO
• Jeong JW
• Lee KW
• Kim KY
• Kim SG
• Kim S
• Hong SH
• Park C
• Hwang HJ
• Choi YH

• KMID: 2367572
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.15430/JCP.2016.21.3.144

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Immunoregulatory elements have emerged as useful immunotherapeutic agents against cancer. In traditional medicine, Mori folium, the leaf of Morus alba L. (Moraceae), has been used for various medicinal purposes; however, the immunomodulatory effects have not been fully identified. We evaluated the immunoenhancing potential of water extract of Mori folium (WEMF) in murine RAW264.7 macrophages.
METHODS
RAW264.7 cells were treated with WEMF for 24 hours and cell viability was detected by an MTT method. Nitric oxide (NO) levels in the culture supernatants were assayed using Griess reagent. The productions of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and immune-related cytokines was measured using ELISA detection kits. The mRNA and protein expression levels of Inducible NO synthase, COX-2, and cytokines were assayed by reverse transcription-PCR and Western blotting, respectively. The effect of WEMF on phagocytic activity was measured using a Phagocytosis Assay Kit.
RESULTS
WEMF significantly stimulated the production of NO and PGE2 as immune response parameters at noncytotoxic concentrations, which was associated with the increased expression of inducible NO synthase and COX-2. The release and expression of cytokines, such as TNF-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and IL-10, were also significantly increased in response to treatment with WEMF. Moreover, WEMF promoted the macrophagic differentiation of RAW264.7 cells and the resulting phagocytosis activity.
CONCLUSIONS
WEMF has the potential to modulate the immune function by regulating immunological parameters. Further studies are needed to identify the active compounds and to support the use of WEMF as an immune stimulant.

Keyword

Mori folium; Macrophages; Immune response; Phagocytosis

MeSH Terms

Blotting, Western
Cell Survival
Cytokines
Dinoprostone
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
In Vitro Techniques*
Interleukin-10
Interleukin-6
Interleukins
Macrophages*
Medicine, Traditional
Methods
Morus*
Nitric Oxide
Nitric Oxide Synthase
Phagocytosis
RNA, Messenger
Water
Cytokines
Dinoprostone
Interleukin-10
Interleukin-6
Interleukins
Nitric Oxide
Nitric Oxide Synthase
RNA, Messenger
Water