Immunomodulatory and anti-tumour activities of Astragalus membranaceus.

by Cho Chi Shing.Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1991.Includes bibliographical references.Acknowledgements --- p.ITable of Contents --- p.IIAbbreviations --- p.VIIAim and Scope of This Dissertation --- p.XAbstract --- p.XIIChapter Chapter One --- General Introduction --- p.1Chapter 1.1 --- An Overview of the Immune System --- p.1Chapter 1.1.1 --- Humoral antibody immune responses --- p.2Chapter 1.1.2 --- Cell-mediated immune responses --- p.3Chapter 1.2 --- Immunomodulation --- p.4Chapter 1.3 --- An Overview of the Anti-tumour Strategies --- p.6Chapter 1.3.1 --- Immunological defense mechanisms against tumours --- p.8Chapter 1.3.1.1 --- T and B lymphocytes --- p.9Chapter 1.3.1.2 --- The monocytes/macrophages --- p.9Chapter 1.3.1.3 --- Non-specific killer cells --- p.10Chapter 1.3.2 --- Adoptive immunotherapy against tumours --- p.11Chapter 1.3.3 --- Induction of tumour cell differentiation --- p.12Chapter 1.4 --- Traditional Chinese Medicines as Potential Immunomodulators and Anti-tumour Agents --- p.13Chapter 1.5 --- General Properties of Astragalus membranaceus --- p.16Chapter Chapter Two --- Materials and Methods --- p.20Chapter 2.1 --- Materials --- p.20Chapter 2.1.1 --- Animals --- p.20Chapter 2.1.2 --- Astragalus membranaceus --- p.20Chapter 2.1.3 --- "Buffers, culture media and chemicals" --- p.20Chapter 2.1.4 --- Cell lines --- p.25Chapter 2.2 --- Methods --- p.28Chapter 2.2.1 --- Extraction and fractionation of Astragalus membranaceus --- p.28Chapter 2.2.2 --- Characterization of Astragalus membranaceus --- p.32Chapter 2.2.3 --- In vivo drug treatment --- p.33Chapter 2.2.4 --- Isolation and preparation of cells --- p.34Chapter 2.2.5 --- Assays for the immunomodulatory activities of Astragalus membranaceus --- p.36Chapter 2.2.6 --- Assays for the immunorestorative properties of Astragalus membranaceus --- p.42Chapter 2.2.7 --- Assays for the anti-tumour activities of Astragalus membranaceus --- p.43Chapter 2.2.8 --- Statistical analysis --- p.47Chapter Chapter Three --- "Extraction, Fractionation and Characterization of Bioactive Components from Astragalus membranaceus" --- p.49Introduction --- p.49Results --- p.50Chapter 3.1 --- Extraction and Fractionation of Astragalus membranaceus --- p.50Chapter 3.2 --- Lack of Cytotoxicity of A.M. to Mouse Splenocytes --- p.51Chapter 3.3 --- Mitogenic Effect of A.M. Fractions on Mouse Splenocytes --- p.51Chapter 3.4 --- AP and AI Fractions Did Not Exhibit Lectin-like Activity --- p.52Chapter 3.5 --- Heat Stability of AP and AI Fractions --- p.52Chapter 3.6 --- Chemical Destruction of the Mitogenic Activity of AI by Sodium Periodate But Not by Acetic Acid Treatment --- p.53Discussion --- p.54Chapter Chapter Four --- The Immunomodulatory Activities of Astragalus membranaceus --- p.63Introduction --- p.63Results --- p.65Chapter 4.1 --- Effect of Astragalus membranaceus on the Specific and Nonspecific Immunity --- p.65Chapter 4.1.1 --- Mitogenic effect of AI on mouse splenocytes in vivo --- p.65Chapter 4.1.2 --- Effect of AI on lymphocyte sub-populations --- p.66Chapter 4.1.3 --- Co-mitogenic effect of AI on mouse splenocytes in vitro --- p.66Chapter 4.1.4 --- Enhancement of the mitogen-induced lymphocyte transformation in vitro by oral administration of AI --- p.67Chapter 4.1.5 --- Mitogenic and co-mitogenic effects of AI on human cord blood lymphocytes in vitro --- p.67Chapter 4.1.6 --- Primary humoral immune response to SRBC in AI-treated mice --- p.68Chapter 4.1.7 --- Effect of AI on interleukin-2 production --- p.68Chapter 4.1.8 --- Effect of AI on interleukin-2 receptor expression on mouse splenocytes --- p.69Chapter 4.1.9 --- Immunopotentiating effects of AI on macrophage functions --- p.70Chapter 4.1.9.1 --- Effect of AI on the cytostatic activity of macrophages in vitro --- p.70Chapter 4.1.9.2 --- In vivo migration and phagocytic activity of macrophages in AI-treated mice --- p.70Chapter 4.1.9.3 --- Cytostatic activity of macrophages in AI-treated mice --- p.71Chapter 4.1.9.4 --- Effect of AI on the Fc receptor expression on mouse resident peritoneal exudate cells --- p.71Chapter 4.2 --- Immunorestorative Properties of Astragalus membranaceus --- p.72Chapter 4.2.1 --- Effect of AI on lymphocyte blastogenesis in aging mice --- p.72Chapter 4.2.2 --- Effect of AI on lymphocyte blastogenesis in tumour-bearing mice --- p.72Chapter 4.2.3 --- Effect of AI on lymphocyte blastogenesis in cyclophosphamide- treated mice --- p.73Discussion --- p.74Chapter Chapter Five --- The Anti-tumour Activities of Astragalus membranaceus --- p.94Introduction --- p.94Results --- p.95Chapter 5.1 --- Lack of Direct Cytotoxicity of AI to Murine and Human Tumour Cell Lines In Vitro --- p.95Chapter 5.2 --- Cytostatic Effect of AI on Various Murine and Human Cell Lines In Vitro --- p.96Chapter 5.3 --- Effect of AI on the Growth of Transplantable Tumour Cells In Vivo --- p.97Chapter 5.4 --- Effect of AI on TNF Production in Tumour-bearing Mice --- p.97Chapter 5.5 --- In Vitro Induction of Lymphokine-activated Killer Cell Activity by AI --- p.98Chapter 5.6 --- Tumour Cell Differentiation-inducing Activity of AI --- p.99Discussion --- p.100Chapter Chapter Six --- General Discussion and Future Perspectives --- p.120References --- p.13