Stimulating effects on mouse splenocytes of glycoproteins from the herbal medicine Atractylodes macrocephala Koidz

A traditional herbal medicine, Atractylodes macrocephala Koidz. (AMK), has long been used as a digestive and tonic. Recent investigations have suggested its potential ability in stimulating immune responses, although a scientific basis for this activity has not yet been elucidated. Based on previous results showing that the activity might be due to proteins, we purified protein samples from an original sample preparation of AMK and examined the stimulating ability of the protein samples on mouse splenocytes. The sample treatment markedly stimulated lymphocyte proliferation, antibody production, and cytokine secretion in mouse splenocytes. In particular, the samples showed the ability to induce the preferential stimulation of Th1 type, rather than Th2 type T lymphocytes. Stimulating activity of the samples was associated closely with glycoprotein(s) with molecular weights of around 30 kDa, especially with carbohydrate moiety rather than with protein residues of the glycoprotein(s). Our findings suggest that the glycoprotein(s) might play critical roles in modulating immune-response induction, and could potentially be used as medicinal and pharmacological agents.