Biochem Pharmacol. 2002 Feb; 63(3): 533-41.

Regulatory effects of deoxycholic acid, a component of the anti-inflammatory traditional Chinese medicine Niuhuang, on human leukocyte response to chemoattractants.

Chen X, Mellon RD, Yang L, Dong H, Oppenheim JJ, Howard OM.

The Laboratory of Molecular Immunoregulation, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute-Frederick, Bldg. 560, Rm. 31-19, Frederick, MD 21702-1201, USA.

Niuhuang is a commonly used Chinese traditional medicine with immunoregulatory and anti-inflammatory properties. Deoxycholic acid (DCA) is a major active constituent of Niuhuang. The reaction of human leukocytes to chemoattractants is an important part of the host immune response and also plays a crucial role in the development of inflammation. We, therefore, investigated the in vitro effects of DCA on human monocyte and neutrophil responses to classic chemoattractants [fMet-Leu-Phe (fMLP), complement fraction 5a (C5a)], CC chemokine [monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1/CCL2)], and/or CXC chemokines [stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1alpha/CXCL12), interleukin-8 (IL-8/CXCL8)]. The results showed that DCA significantly inhibited fMLP-induced monocyte and neutrophil chemotaxis and calcium mobilization, and also blocked the binding of [3H]fMLP and anti-formyl peptide receptor (FPR) monoclonal antibodies (mAb) to the cells. The inhibitory effects of DCA on calcium mobilization and anti-FPR-mAb binding to the receptor could be abrogated by washing DCA out of the cell suspension, suggesting that DCA blocked fMLP receptors via a steric hindrance mechanism, not via receptor internalization. DCA had no significant inhibitory effects on MCP-1-, SDF-1alpha-, or C5a-induced monocyte function, or C5a- or IL-8-induced neutrophil function. Taken together, our experimental results suggest that blockade of fMLP receptors may contribute to the anti-inflammatory effects of traditional medicine containing DCA.