title: Inhibition of inflammatory cytokine production and lymphocyte proliferation by structurally different sesquiterpene lactones correlates with their effect on activation of NF-kappaB.
abstract: Many sesquiterpene lactones (Sls) are known to possess anti-inflammatory activities. To gain further insight into their structure-activity relationships and the molecular mechanism of action, four germacranolide sesquiterpene lactones which differ in the skeleton and the number of reactive centers (4beta,15-epoxy-miller-9E-enolide (1), 15-acetoxy-eremantholide B (2), a mixture of 15-(isovaleroyl)/15-(2-methyl-butyryl)-2alpha-acetoxy-miguanin (3), and 15-(2-hydroxy)-isobutyryloxy-micrantholide (4)) were investigated for their effect on production of proinflammatory cytokines (interleukin-1beta [IL-1beta], IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha [TNF-alpha]) as well as proliferation of concanavalin A (Con A) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated mouse lymphocytes. Compounds 1 and 3 which possess an alpha-methylene-gamma-lactone function and a conjugated carbonyl group induced a half-maximal inhibition of cytokine synthesis in adherent mouse peritoneal exudate cells at micromolar concentrations (IC(50) 0.69-1.70 microM), while compound 4 which contains only an alpha-methylene-gamma-lactone residue was less active (IC(50) > or 38 microM). Interestingly, compound 2, which carries only a conjugated keto group, displayed a potency similar to those of the bifunctional compounds 1 and 3. All four Sls suppressed proliferation of murine lymphocyte at IC(50) concentrations between 0.22 and 5.03 microM. The rank order of potency was 1 = 2 > 3 > 4. Generally, the growth of LPS-stimulated cells was more strongly influenced than those of Con A-activated lymphocytes. This effect was particularly pronounced with 4. Inhibitory concentrations correlated well with those necessary for inhibition of the transcription factor nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB) observed in a previous investigation. Therefore, it can be assumed that NF-kappaB may be involved in the suppressive effect of Sls on cytokine production and lymphocyte proliferation.
authors.affiliation: Dr. Willmar Schwabe Pharmaceuticals, Karlsruhe, Germany.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Koch
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Klaas
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rüngeler
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Castro
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mora
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Vichnewski
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Merfort
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism; D007783:Lactones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism*; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000378:metabolism; D012717:Sesquiterpenes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D007375:Interleukin-1; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D015850:Interleukin-6; D007783:Lactones; D016328:NF-kappa B; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D012717:Sesquiterpenes; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; C052994:interleukin-1beta (163-171)