Roburic Acid Suppresses NO and IL-6 Production via Targeting NF-κB and MAPK Pathway in RAW264.7 Cells

Dual-Delivery Temperature-Sensitive Hydrogel with Antimicrobial and Anti-Inflammatory Brevilin A and Nitric Oxide for Wound Healing in Bacterial Infection

Bacterial infections impede the wound healing process and can trigger local or systemic inflammatory responses. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop a dressing with antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties to promote the healing of infected wounds. In this study, BA/COs/NO-PL/AL hydrogels were obtained by adding brevilin A (BA) camellia oil (CO) submicron emulsion and nitric oxide (NO) to hydrogels consisting of sodium alginate (AL) and Pluronic F127 (PL). The hydrogels were characterized through dynamic viscosity analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, and rheology. They were evaluated through anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and wound healing property analyses. The results showed that BA/COs/NO-PL/AL hydrogels were thermo-responsive and had good ex vivo and in vivo anti-inflammatory activity, and they also exhibited strong antimicrobial activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MRPA) and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). They were able to effectively promote healing of the infected wound model and reduce inflammation and bacterial burden. H&E and Masson's staining showed that BA/COs/NO-PL/AL hydrogels promoted normal epithelial formation and collagen deposition. In conclusion, BA/COs/NO-PL/AL hydrogels are promising candidates for promoting the healing of infected wounds.

Ancient forest plants possess cytotoxic properties causing liver cancer HepG2 cell apoptosis

Here, we collected 154 plant species in China ancient forests looking for novel efficient bioactive compounds for cancer treatments. We found 600 bioactive phyto-chemicals that induce apoptosis of liver cancer cell in vitro. First, we screen the plant extract's in vitro cytotoxicity inhibition of cancer cell growth using in vitro HepG2 cell lines and MTT cytotoxicity. The results from these initial MTT in vitro cytotoxicity tests show that the most efficient plants towards hepatoma cytoxicity is Cephalotaxus sinensis, mint bush (Elsholtzia stauntonii) and winged spindle tree (Euonymus alatus). We then used in cell-counting kit-8 (CCK-8) to further understand in vivo tumor growth using nude mice and GC-MS and LC-QTOF-MS to analyze the composition of compounds in the extracts. Extracted chemically active molecules analyzed by network pharmacology showed inhibition on the growth of liver cancer cells by acting on multiple gene targets, which is different from the currently used traditional drugs acting on only one target of liver cancer cells. Extracts from Cephalotaxus sinensis, mint bush (Elsholtzia stauntonii) and winged spindle tree (Euonymus alatus) induce apoptosis in hepatoma cancer cell line HepG2 with a killing rate of more than 83% and a tumor size decrease by 62-67% and a killing rate of only 6% of normal hepatocyte LO2. This study highlight efficient candidate species for cancer treatment providing a basis for future development of novel plant-based drugs to help meeting several of the UN SDGs and planetary health.

Qingfei Formula Protects against Human Respiratory Syn cytial Virus-induced Lung Inflammatory Injury by Regulating the M APK Signaling Pathway

OBJECTIVE

Qingfei formula (QF) is an empirical formula that shows good clinical efficacy in treating human respiratory syncytial virus pneumonia (RSVP). However, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. This study explores the possible pharmacological actions of QF in RSVP treatment.

METHODS

We used a network pharmacology approach to identify the active ingredients of QF, forecast possible therapeutic targets, and analyze biological processes and pathways. Molecular docking simulation was used to evaluate the binding capability of active ingredients and therapeutic targets. Finally, in vivo experiments confirmed the reliability of network pharmacology-based prediction of underlying mechanisms.

RESULTS

The study identified 92 potential therapeutic targets and corresponding 131 active ingredients. Enrichment analysis showed that QF downregulated the MAPK signaling pathway and suppressed the inflammatory injury to the lungs induced by the RSV virus. Molecular docking simulations demonstrated that the core active ingredients of QF could stably bind to genes associated with the MAPK signaling pathway. QF had a protective effect against pneumonia in RSV-infected mice. The QF group exhibited a significant reduction in the levels of inflammatory mediators, interleukin- 6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (CXCL8, IL-8), and P-STAT3, compared to the RSV-induced group. The QF group showed remarkably inhibited MAPK1+3(P-ERK1+2) and MAPK8(P-JNK) protein expression.

CONCLUSION

The current study showed that QF downregulated the MAPK signaling pathway, which inhibited pulmonary inflammation triggered by RSV infection. This study recommends the appropriate use of QF in the clinical management of RSVP.

Substances of Natural Origin in Medicine: Plants vs. Cancer

Continuous monitoring of the population's health is the main method of learning about disease prevalence. National and international data draw attention to the persistently high rates of cancer incidence. This necessitates the intensification of efforts aimed at developing new, more effective chemotherapeutic and chemopreventive drugs. Plants represent an invaluable source of natural substances with versatile medicinal properties. Multidirectional activities exhibited by natural substances and their ability to modulate key signaling pathways, mainly related to cancer cell death, make these substances an important research direction. This review summarizes the information regarding plant-derived chemotherapeutic drugs, including their mechanisms of action, with a special focus on selected anti-cancer drugs (paclitaxel, irinotecan) approved in clinical practice. It also presents promising plant-based drug candidates currently being tested in clinical and preclinical trials (betulinic acid, resveratrol, and roburic acid).

Aloe Extracts Inhibit Skin Inflammatory Responses by Regulating NF-κB, ERK, and JNK Signaling Pathways in an LPS-Induced RAW264.7 Macrophages Model

Introduction

Inflammation generally refers to the body's defensive response to stimuli, and skin inflammation is still one of the major problems that affect human physical and mental health. While current pharmacological treatments are reported to have cytotoxicity and various side effects, herbal medicines with few side effects and low cytotoxicity are considered as alternative therapeutic approaches.

Methods

In order to investigate anti-inflammatory effects and mechanisms of ALOE, the potential cytotoxicity of A. vera extracts (ALOE) was determined in vitro at first. The production of the pro-inflammatory proteins (ie, IL-6, TNF-α) in lipopolysaccharides (LPS) and ultraviolet A (UVA)-stimulated HaCaT and RAW264.7 cells were then treated with ALOE to test its inhibitory effects using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). To further explore the anti-inflammatory mechanisms of ALOE, quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR) was used to analyze the mRNA expression of inflammatory genes iNOS, COX-2 and NO production. For NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways analysis, Western blotting and nuclear fluorescence staining were used to evaluate the expression of key factors.

Results

ALOE did not exhibit obvious cytotoxicity (0-3 mg/mL) in vitro. ALOE was able to inhibit the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6, TNF-α and functioned more prominently in LPS-induced model. ALOE could also suppress the mRNA expression of LPS-induced iNOS and COX-2 and further down-regulate NO level. Furthermore, ALOE reduced the protein expression of P65 in NF-κB signaling pathway and suppressed LPS-induced activation of ERK and JNK, instead of p38 MAPK pathway.

Conclusion

Taken together, these results demonstrated that ALOE is a potential treatment in suppressing LPS-stimulated inflammation reactions targeting NF-κB, JNK and ERK signaling pathways. The anti-inflammatory effects of ALOE indicated that it has the potential to become an effective cosmetic ingredient.

Network Pharmacology and Experimental Validation to Explore the Molecular Mechanisms of Compound Huangbai Liquid for the Treatment of Acne

Background

Acne is a highly prevalent skin disease, and inflammation plays an important role. Compound Huangbai Liquid (CHL) is a classical traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) with remarkable clinical therapeutic effects on acne. However, a holistic network pharmacological approach to explain the mechanism of CHL in the treatment of acne has not been explored.

Methods

In this study, active components and action targets of Compound Huangbai Liquid were assessed via BATMAN-TCM. The target genes related to acne were extracted from GeneCards, DisGeNet and OMIM databases. Venn diagrams to predict potential targets for the treatment of acne. Protein-Protein interaction (PPI) analysis was proceeded through String database to obtain the core protein, and the protein interaction network was constructed by Cytoscape 3.9.1. Gene Ontology (Go) analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis were performed on Metascape platforms and bioinformatics.com.cn. TCM-compound-target-disease network and disease-target pathway network were constructed using Cytoscape to give the visual result. Finally, the results were further verified by establishing the mouse acne animal model.

Results

This approach identified 165 active compounds, 1117 gene targets, 156 acne-related targets, and 34 potential target proteins for the treatment of acne with CHL. The biological processes were primarily related to cellular response to lipid, response to lipopolysaccharide, and regulation of secretion. The CHL was significantly associated with ten pathways including the Chagas disease and pathways in cancer. Animal experiments showed that CHL could significantly alleviate the levels of inflammatory factors and TLR4/NF-κB/p38 MAPK signaling pathway in acne.

Conclusion

This study revealed the multiple active components, multiple targets, and multiple pathways of CHL in the treatment of acne, which provided a new perspective for the study of the mechanism of traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of acne.

Inhibitory effect of roburic acid in combination with docetaxel on human prostate cancer cells

Roburic acid (ROB) is a naturally occurred tetracyclic triterpenoid, and the anticancer activity of this compound has not been reported. Docetaxel (DOC) is the first-line chemotherapeutic agent for advanced stage prostate cancer but toxic side effects and drug resistance limit its clinical success. In this study, the potential synergistic anticancer effect and the underlying mechanisms of ROB in combination with DOC on prostate cancer were investigated. The results showed that ROB and DOC in combination synergistically inhibited the growth of prostate cancer cells. The combination also strongly induced apoptosis, and suppressed cell migration, invasion and sphere formation. Mechanistic study showed that the combined effects of ROB and DOC on prostate cancer cells were associated with inhibition of NF-κB activation, down regulation of Bcl-2 and up regulation of Bax. Knockdown of NF-κB by small interfering RNA (siRNA) significantly decreased the combined effect of ROB and DOC. Moreover, we found that esomeprazole (ESOM), a proton pump inhibitor (PPI), strongly enhanced the effectiveness of ROB and DOC on prostate cancer cells in acidic culture medium. Since acidic micro environment is known to impair the efficacy of current anticancer therapies, ESOM combined with ROB and DOC may be an effective approach for improving the treatment of prostate cancer patients.

Roburic Acid Targets TNF to Inhibit the NF-κB Signaling Pathway and Suppress Human Colorectal Cancer Cell Growth

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-stimulated nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) signaling plays very crucial roles in cancer development and progression, and represents a potential target for drug discovery. Roburic acid is a newly discovered tetracyclic triterpene acid isolated from oak galls and exhibits anti-inflammatory activity. However, whether roburic acid exerts antitumor effects through inhibition of TNF-induced NF-κB signaling remains unknown. Here, we demonstrated that roburic acid bound directly to TNF with high affinity (K_D = 7.066 μM), blocked the interaction between TNF and its receptor (TNF-R1), and significantly inhibited TNF-induced NF-κB activation. Roburic acid exhibited antitumor activity in numerous cancer cells and could effectively induce G0/G1 cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in colorectal cancer cells. Importantly, roburic acid inhibited the TNF-induced phosphorylation of IKKα/β, IκBα, and p65, degradation of IκBα, nuclear translocation of p65, and NF-κB-target gene expression, including that of XIAP, Mcl-1, and Survivin, in colorectal cancer cells. Moreover, roburic acid suppressed tumor growth by blocking NF-κB signaling in a xenograft nude mouse model of colorectal cancer. Taken together, our findings showed that roburic acid directly binds to TNF with high affinity, thereby disrupting its interaction with TNF-R1 and leading to the inhibition of the NF-κB signaling pathway, both in vitro and in vivo. The results indicated that roburic acid is a novel TNF-targeting therapeutics agent in colorectal cancer as well as other cancer types.

Anti-inflammatory activity of flavonols via inhibiting MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathways in RAW264.7 macrophages

Fisetin (Fis), quercetin (Que), and myricetin (Myr) are flavonols with similar structure but different number of hydroxyl groups. The present research focused on the anti-inflammatory effect of these three flavonols in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. The number and site of hydroxyl group in flavonols obviously affected their anti-inflammation activity. These flavonols suppressed the overproduction of nitric oxide. Fis showed the best activity with an inhibition rate of 52% at 20 μM. Moreover, the flavonols reduced the levels of ROS, TNF-α, and IL-6. The mechanistic study showed that they inhibited the activation of NF-κB and MAPK pathways by suppressing the phosphorylation of IκBα, p65, JNK, ERK, p38, MEK, and reducing the nuclear translocation of NF-κB p65. In addition, the metabolism of the flavonols was examined. The results indicated that Fis was both methylated and glucuronidated. Que and Myr were mainly transformed into methylated products. This study highlights the anti-inflammatory activity of flavonols, particularly Fis, which has the potential for the prevention or treatment of inflammation as an adjuvant medicine or food additive.

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Flavonols suppressed the production of NO and ROS.

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Flavonols partially blocked the activation of NF-κB and MAPK pathways.

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Fisetin is an excellent anti-inflammatory reagent.

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The number of hydroxyl group in flavonols obviously affects their anti-inflammation activity.

Roburic acid attenuates osteoclastogenesis and bone resorption by targeting RANKL-induced intracellular signaling pathways

Excessive activity of osteoclasts contributes to skeletal diseases such as osteoporosis and osteolysis. However, current drugs targeting osteoclast have various deficiencies, placing natural compounds as substitutions of great potential. Roburic acid (RA) is a triterpenoid exacted from Radix Gentianae Macrophyllae, which exhibits inhibitory effects on inflammation and oxidation. By employing an in vitro osteoclastogenesis model, this study investigates the effects and mechanisms of RA on intracellular signaling induced by receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL). As expected, RA at a concentration scope from 1 to 10 μM dampened the osteoclast differentiation of bone marrow macrophages (BMMs) but without cell toxicity. Interestingly, RA showed no effect on osteoblastogenesis in vitro. Furthermore, RA mitigated F-actin ring formation, hydroxyapatite resorption, and gene expression in osteoclasts. Mechanistically, RA suppressed TNF receptor-associated factor 6 (TRAF6), the crucial adaptor protein following RANKL-RANK binding. On the one hand, RA downregulated the nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) activity, extracellular regulated protein kinases (ERK) phosphorylation, and calcium oscillations. On the other hand, RA upregulated the antioxidative response element (ARE) response and the protein expression of heme oxygenase (HO)-1. These upstream alterations eventually led to the suppression of the nuclear factor of activated T cells 1 (NFATc1) activity and the expression of proteins involved in osteoclastogenesis and bone resorption. Furthermore, by using an ovariectomized (OVX) mice model, RA was found to have therapeutic effects against bone loss. On account of these findings, RA could be used to restrain osteoclasts for treating osteoporosis and other osteolytic diseases.

Effect of Protein O-Mannosyltransferase (MSMEG_5447) on M. smegmatis and Its Survival in Macrophages

Protein O-mannosyltransferase (PMT) catalyzes an initial step of protein O-mannosylation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) and plays a crucial role for Mtb survival in the host. To better understand the role of PMT in the host innate immune response during mycobacterial infection, in this study, we utilized Mycobacterium smegmatis pmt (MSMEG_5447) gene knockout strain, ΔM5447, to infect THP-1 cells. Our results revealed that the lack of MSMEG_5447 not only impaired the growth of M. smegmatis in 7H9 medium but also reduced the resistance of M. smegmatis against lysozyme and acidic stress in vitro. Macrophage infection assay showed that ΔM5447 displayed attenuated growth in macrophages at 24 h post-infection. The production of TNF-α and IL-6 and the activation of transcription factor NF-κB were decreased in ΔM5447-infected macrophages, which were further confirmed by transcriptomic analysis. Moreover, ΔM5447 failed to inhibit phagosome–lysosome fusion in macrophages. These findings revealed that PMT played a role in modulating the innate immune responses of the host, which broaden our understanding for functions of protein O-mannosylation in mycobacterium–host interaction.

Inhibitory Effect of Quercetin on Propionibacterium acnes-induced Skin Inflammation

Quercetin is a well-known antioxidant and a plant polyphenolic of flavonoid group found in many fruits, leaves, and vegetables. Propionibacterium acnes is a key skin pathogen involved in the progression of acne inflammation. Although quercetin has been applied to treat various inflammatory diseases, the effects of quercetin on P. acnes-induced skin inflammation have not been explored. This study investigated the effects of quercetin on P. acnes-induced inflammatory skin disease in vitro and in vivo. The results showed that quercetin suppressed the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines in P. acnes-stimulated HaCaT, THP-1 and RAW 264.7 cells. Additionally, quercetin reduced the production of TLR-2 and the phosphorylation of p38, ERK and JNK MAPKs in P. acnes-stimulated HaCaT and THP-1 cells. It also suppressed MMP-9 mRNA levels in two cell lines exposed to P. acnes in vitro. In the case of in vivo, P. acnes was intradermally injected into the ears of mice and it resulted in cutaneous erythema, swelling, and a granulomatous response. Treatment with quercetin markedly reduced ear thickness and swelling. These results suggested that quercetin can be a potential therapeutic agent against P. acnes-induced skin inflammation and may have diverse pharmaceutical and cosmetics applications.

In vitro and in vivo anti-inflammatory effects of different extracts from Epigynum auritum through down-regulation of NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Epigynum auritum has been historically used as a "dai" or traditional medicine for the treatment of inflammation, swelling and severe pain during injury; these may reduce risk of disease and lead to healthier aging. Apart from this, Epigynum auritum extract was also used in arhritis treatment which is also a type of inflammation. Previous phytochemical studies of E. auritum revealed that steroids are main characteristic components with a number of biological activities (especially immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory activity) Nevertheless, the underlying mechanism of the E. auritum on inflammatory diseases is still unresolved.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study aimed to comparatively investigate the anti-inflammatory potential of different fractions from the extract of E. auritum (EAE), with their possible active ingredients to reveal the underlying mechanism.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The EAE was fractionated by column chromatography with macroporous resin D101 which yielded six fractions. The potential anti-inflammatory properties of different fractions of EAE were evaluated in in vitro and in vivo model. The lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW264.7 macrophages cells were used for in vitro studies however two typical acute inflammation murine models (xylene-induced ear edema and carrageenan-induced paw edema) were used for anti-inflammatory studies. The important molecular mechanisms related to inflammation were also analyzed by ELISA, western blotting and immunofluorescence. UHPLC-MS/MS was used to analyze the chemical composition of 100% EAE fraction.

RESULTS

Different EAE fractions (especially the Fr. 100% of MeOH:H₂O) significantly reduced the productions of NO, ROS, TNF-α, and IL-6 by LPS-induced RAW264.7 macrophages and increased the expression of IL-10. The expression levels of iNOS and COX-2 enzymes were significantly down-regulated by 100% EAE fraction. Furthermore, 100% EAE fraction inhibited the phosphorylation of the ERK1/2, JNK, and p38 MAPK, and reduced the nuclear translocation of NF-κB which prevents its activation by blocking the phosphorylation and degradation of inhibitor protein of IκBα. In addition two inflammatory animal models; xylene-induced ear edema and carrageenan-stimulated paw edema were also developed with significantly ameliorated inflammatory cytokines. The treatment of these inflammatory models with 100% EAE fraction (Fr. 100%) suppressed the expressions of elevated inflammatory cytokines. Besides the UHPLC-HRMS/MS analysis was also carried out in which the androstane analogues were found to be as a main chemical components.

CONCLUSION

Different fractions (especially Fr. 100%) exert inhibitory effect on inflammation by regulating the release of inflammatory mediators through the NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways. The androstane and its derivatives might be performing an important role in the observed anti-inflammatory activity. Therefore, Fr. 100% of EAE could be applied as a potential drug candidate for the prevention and treatment of inflammatory diseases.

The Aqueous Extract of Radio-Resistant Deinococcus actinosclerus BM2T Suppresses Lipopolysaccharide-Mediated Inflammation in RAW264.7 Cells

Deinococcus actinosclerus BM2^T (GenBank: KT448814) is a radio-resistant bacterium that is newly isolated from the soil of a rocky hillside in Seoul. As an extremophile, D. actinosclerus BM2^T may possess anti-inflammatory properties that may be beneficial to human health. In this study, we evaluated the anti-inflammatory effects of BM2U, an aqueous extract of D. actinosclerus BM2^T, on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-mediated inflammatory responses in RAW264.7 macrophage cells. BM2U showed antioxidant capacity, as determined by the DPPH radical scavenging (IC₅₀ = 349.3 μg/ml) and ORAC (IC₅₀ = 50.24 μg/ml) assays. At 20 μg/ml, BM2U induced a significant increase in heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) expression (p < 0.05). BM2U treatment (0.2-20 μg/ml) significantly suppressed LPS-induced increase in the mRNA expression of proinflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1β, and IL-6 (p < 0.05). BM2U treatment also suppressed the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), which are involved in the production of inflammatory mediators. BM2U treatment also inhibited the activation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs): JNK, ERK, and p-38 (p < 0.05). Collectively, BM2U exhibited anti-inflammatory potential that can be exploited in attenuating inflammatory responses.

In Vitro and In Vivo Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Polyphyllin VII through Downregulating MAPK and NF-κB Pathways

Background: Polyphyllin VII (PP7), a steroidal saponin from Paris polyphylla, has been found to exert strong anticancer activity. Little is known about the anti-inflammatory property of PP7. In this study, the anti-inflammatory activity and its underlying mechanisms of PP7 were evaluated in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 cells and in multiple animal models. Methods: The content of nitric oxide (NO) was determined by spectrophotometry. The levels of prostaglandin E2 (PGE₂) and cytokines were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) assay. The mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory genes was determined by qPCR. The total and phosphorylated protein levels were examined by Western blotting. The in vivo anti-inflammatory activities were evaluated by using mouse and zebrafish models. Results: PP7 reduced the production of NO and PGE₂ and the protein and mRNA expressions of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6) and enzymes (inducible NO synthase [iNOS], cyclooxygenase-2 [COX-2], and Matrix metalloproteinase-9 [MMP-9]) in LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells by suppressing the NF-κB and MAPKs pathways. Notably, PP7 markedly inhibited xylene-induced ear edema and cotton pellet-induced granuloma formation in mice and suppressed LPS and CuSO₄-induced inflammation and toxicity in zebrafish embryos. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that PP7 exerts strong anti-inflammatory activities in multiple in vitro and in vivo models and suggests that PP7 is a potential novel therapeutic agent for inflammatory diseases.

Purification and Characterization of a Novel Pentadecapeptide from Protein Hydrolysates of Cyclina sinensis and Its Immunomodulatory Effects on RAW264.7 Cells

In the present study, peptide fractions of Cyclina sinensis hydrolysates, with molecular weight (MW) < 3 kDa and highest relative proliferation rate of murine macrophage cell line RAW 264.7, were purified by a series of chromatographic purification methods, to obtain peptide fractions with immunomodulatory activity. The amino acid sequence of the peptide was identified to be Arg-Val-Ala-Pro-Glu-Glu-His-Pro-Val-Glu-Gly-Arg-Tyr-Leu-Val (RVAPEEHPVEGRYLV) with MW of 1750.81 Da, and the novel pentadecapeptide (named SCSP) was synthesized for subsequent immunomodulatory activity experiments. Results showed the SCSP enhanced macrophage phagocytosis, increased productions of nitric oxide (NO), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and up-regulated the protein level of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), nuclear factor κB (NF-κB), and NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) in RAW 264.7 cells. Furthermore, the expression of inhibitor of nuclear factor κB-α (IκB-α) was down-regulated. These findings suggest that SCSP might stimulate macrophage activities by activating the NF-κB signaling pathway and can be used as a potential immunomodulatory agent in functional food or medicine.

MptpB Promotes Mycobacteria Survival by Inhibiting the Expression of Inflammatory Mediators and Cell Apoptosis in Macrophages

Tuberculosis is a severe contagious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). To develop new vaccines and medicine against TB, there is an urgent need to provide insights into the mechanisms by which Mtb induces tuberculosis. In this study, we found that secreted Mtb virulence factor MptpB significantly enhanced the survival of H37Rv in macrophages. MptpB suppressed the production of iNOS, the expression of inflammatory factors IL-1β and IL-6, as well as the apoptosis of the macrophage in Mtb infected RAW264.7 cells. Mechanism investigation showed that MptpB simultaneously hampered the NF-κB and MAPK signal pathways, evidenced by its blocking of p65, IKKα, Erk1/2, and p38 phosphorylation induced by Mtb infection. MptpB also inhibited host cell p53 expression. The results demonstrated that MptpB contributed to the survival of H37Rv by inhibiting host inflammatory responses and apoptosis through impeding the NF-κB and MAPK signal pathways and p53 expression in the macrophage.

Anti-Inflammatory Triterpenoids from the Caulophyllum robustum Maximin LPS-Stimulated RAW264.7 Cells

Caulophyllum robustum Maxim is widely distributed in China and used as a traditional herbal medicine to induce childbirth, ease the pain of labor, rectify delayed or irregular menstruation, alleviate heavy bleeding and pain during menstruation, and treat external injuries and irregular menses. According to our detailed chemical investigation, three new triterpene derivatives (1–3), together with seven known compounds, were isolated from the root and rhizome of C. robustum Maxim. Their structures were elucidated by 1D- and 2D-NMR spectroscopic analysis and physio-chemical methods. They were identified as (1) 23-hydroxy-3,19-dioxo-olean-12-en-28-oic-acid; (2) 23-hydroxy-3,11-dioxo-olean-12-en-28-oic acid; and (3) 16α,23-dihydroxy-3-oxo-olean-12-en-28-oic acid. Compounds (1–10) inhibited the LPS-activated NO production in RAW264.7 cells. Furthermore, the anti-inflammatory characteristics of these compounds were confirmed on the basis of decreases in iNOS and NF-κB protein expression in RAW264.7 cells.