Effect of ginkgolide B on the production of NO, IL-6 and RANTES from astrocytes

This study is to explore the effect of ginkgolide B (BN52021) on the production of nitric oxide (NO), interleukin (IL)-6 and regulated upon activation normal T cell expressed and secreted (RANTES) from  astrocytes induced by stimulators.  Primary cultured rat astrocytes were stimulated with lipopolysaccharides (LPS), the production of NO was assayed using Griess reaction; U251 cells were stimulated with IL-1β, the  contents of IL-6 and RANTES in the supernatant were measured using ELISA.  The mRNA expressions of IL-6 and RANTES were detected using RT-PCR.  LPS (10 ng·mL⁻¹ to 10 μg·mL⁻¹) could stimulate rat astrocytes to produce NO in a dose-dependent manner.  Ginkgolide B at the concentrations of 0.1−10 mmol·L⁻¹ were shown to decrease NO production significantly.  IL-1β could induce the mRNA expression and protein secretion of IL-6 from U251 cells, as well as RANTES.  Ginkgolide B at concentrations of 0.1−10 mmol·L⁻¹ were shown to inhibit RANTES secretion, and to inhibit mRNA expression of IL-6 and RANTES at concentration of 10 mmol·L⁻¹.  Ginkgolide B has inhibitory effect on the production of NO, IL-6 and RANTES from astrocytes treated with inflammatory stimulators.