title: Effect of lignins and their precursors on nitric oxide, citrulline and asparagine production by mouse macrophage-like Raw 264.7 cells.
abstract: Lignins, tannins and flavonoids are commonly found polyphenols. Among these polyphenols, lignins, polymers of phenylpropenoids complexed with polysaccharides, were the least cytotoxic and most potently stimulated the production of nitric oxide (NO), citrulline and asparagine by mouse macrophage-like Raw 264.7 cells. The maximum production of these substances reached the level attained by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). However, epigallocatechin gallate, phenylpropenoid monomers (ferulic acid, caffeic acid) and gallic acid (component unit of tannin) were inactive. These data suggest that the macrophage-stimulation activity of polyphenols depends, at least in part, on their molecular weight or structural configuration. There was a positive relationship between the extent of asparagine production and that of NO or citrulline. Western blot analysis demonstrated that both lignins and LPS elevated the cellular level of asparagine synthetase. The present study suggests the possible link between the stimulated asparagine production and macrophage activation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dental Pharmacology, Meikai University School of Dentistry, Sakado, Saitama 350-0283, Japan.
authors.forename: Fumika
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: Haruo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Okayasu
authors.forename: Miyuki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tashiro
authors.forename: Ken
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hashimoto
authors.forename: Yoshiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yokote
authors.forename: Kiso
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Akahane
authors.forename: Shigeki
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hongo
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sakagami
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001216:Asparagine / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D001217:Aspartate-Ammonia Ligase / Q000378:metabolism; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002109:Caffeic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000633:toxicity; D002392:Catechin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000633:toxicity; D002956:Citrulline / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D003373:Coumaric Acids / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000633:toxicity; D005707:Gallic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000633:toxicity; D008031:Lignin / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D028223:Pinus / Q000737:chemistry; D013268:Stimulation, Chemical
chemical_list: D002109:Caffeic Acids; D003373:Coumaric Acids; D002956:Citrulline; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D005707:Gallic Acid; D001216:Asparagine; D002392:Catechin; D008031:Lignin; C004999:ferulic acid; C045651:epigallocatechin gallate; D001217:Aspartate-Ammonia Ligase; C040048:caffeic acid