Immunomodulatory effects of Traditional Chinese Medicine on neutrophil dysfunction

• Main Author: Loh, Zheng Jia
• Other Authors: Zhao Yan
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2017
• Subjects: DRNTU::Science::Biological sciences::Microbiology::Immunology
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/72498
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Project Title: Immunomodulatory Effects of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Neutrophil Dysfunction Student Name: Loh Zheng Jia (U1440614J) Neutrophils are the most abundant immune cells circulating in blood, usually absent from healthy tissue, but are recruited during infection or inflammation. The aim of this study was to investigate the immunomodulatory effects of Traditional Chinese Medicine herbs Astragalus radix (AR), Scutellariae radix (SR) and Antrodia cinnamomea (AC) on neutrophil dysfunction. Using a novel Dean Flow Fractionation (DFF) microfluidic device, neutrophils were purified from whole blood and assessed for their reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and neutrophil rolling behaviour on E-selectin, a crucial step in leukocyte recruitment. Neutrophils treated with AR and SR saw a decrease in ROS produced, while neutrophils treated with AC experienced an increase. Samples treated with SR and AC formed black precipitates and NETs respectively, rendering them unusable for the rolling assay. They were excluded from further experimentation. Rescue treatment done by treating neutrophils with Tumour Necrosis Factor-α (TNF-α) followed by AR exhibited reduced ROS production. Rolling assay done following rescue treatment also showed an increased quantity of adhered neutrophils compared to the positive control. This indicates that the herbs may be effective for use in treating low-grade inflammation.