The Protective Effects of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi Water Extracts on the Immunomodulatory Effects on Liver Damage Induced by Carbon Tetrachloride in Rats

• Published in: Hanʼguk Yakyong Changmul Hakhoe chi Vol. 17; no. 4
• Main Authors: An, C.S., Konkuk University, Chungju, Republic of Korea, Jin, H. L., Konkuk University, Chungju, Republic of Korea, Jeon, Y.H., Konkuk University, Chungju, Republic of Korea, Lim, B.O., Konkuk University, Chungju, Republic of Korea
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Korean
• Published: 01.08.2009
• Subjects: CARBON TETRACHLORIDE; GATA-3; Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi; T-bet; TETRACHLORURE DE CARBONE; TETRACLORURO DE CARBONO
• ISSN: 1225-9306

GATA-binding protein-3 (GATA-3) and T-box expressed in T-cells (T-bet) are now considered as master transcription factors involving Th cell differentiation, but the roles of these factors are still uncertain in vivo. This study was conducted to investigate the expression of these transcription factors in the liver damage induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄) in rats. In this study, liver damage were induced with Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi water extracts (SBW) and followed for 4 weeks. The expression of GATA-3 and T-bet protein in liver damage induced by CCl₄ and the serum levels of immunoglobulin A (IgA), IgE were studied after 4 weeks of treatment. We found that effect of SBW on IFN-γ, STAT1, pSTAT1 and T-bet was decreased in vivo. Several genes were demonstrated to be IL-4 inducible prior to the discovery of STAT6. CCl₄+SBW group was significantly lower than CCl₄ group in IL-4, STAT6, pSTAT6 and GATA-3. Our data indicate that cytokine protein production were increased in CCl₄ group and CCl₄+SBW group. From these results, water extracts obtained from Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi may have an immunoregulatory effect in the liver induced by CCl₄ of rats.