title: Ursolic acid inhibits nuclear factor-kappaB activation induced by carcinogenic agents through suppression of IkappaBalpha kinase and p65 phosphorylation: correlation with down-regulation of cyclooxygenase 2, matrix metalloproteinase 9, and cyclin D1.
abstract: The process of tumorigenesis requires cellular transformation, hyperproliferation, invasion, angiogenesis, and metastasis. Several genes that mediate these processes are regulated by the transcription factor nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB). The latter is activated by various carcinogens, inflammatory agents, and tumor promoters. Thus, agents that can suppress NF-kappaB activation have the potential to suppress carcinogenesis. Ursolic acid, a pentacyclic triterpene acid, has been shown to suppress the expression of several genes associated with tumorigenesis, but whether ursolic acid mediates its effects through suppression of NF-kappaB is not understood. In the study described in the present report, we found that ursolic acid suppressed NF-kappaB activation induced by various carcinogens including tumor necrosis factor (TNF), phorbol ester, okadaic acid, H(2)O(2), and cigarette smoke. These effects were not cell type specific. Ursolic acid inhibited DNA binding of NF-kappaB consisting of p50 and p65. Ursolic acid inhibited IkappaBalpha degradation, IkappaBalpha phosphorylation, IkappaBalpha kinase activation, p65 phosphorylation, p65 nuclear translocation, and NF-kappaB-dependent reporter gene expression. Ursolic acid also inhibited NF-kappaB-dependent reporter gene expression activated by TNF receptor, TNF receptor-associated death domain, TNF receptor-associated factor, NF-kappaB-inducing kinase, IkappaBalpha kinase, and p65. The inhibition of NF-kappaB activation correlated with suppression of NF-kappaB-dependent cyclin D1, cyclooxygenase 2, and matrix metalloproteinase 9 expression. Thus, overall, our results indicate that ursolic acid inhibits IkappaBalpha kinase and p65 phosphorylation, leading to the suppression of NF-kappaB activation induced by various carcinogens. These actions of ursolic acid may mediate its antitumorigenic and chemosensitizing effects.
authors.affiliation: Cytokine Research Laboratory, Department of Bioimmunotherapy, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
authors.forename: Shishir
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shishodia
authors.forename: Sekhar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Majumdar
authors.forename: Sanjeev
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Banerjee
authors.forename: Bharat B
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Aggarwal
mesh_terms: D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D002273:Carcinogens / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000494:pharmacology; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D019938:Cyclin D1 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D015536:Down-Regulation; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D015870:Gene Expression; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D006801:Humans; D051550:I-kappa B Kinase; D020672:I-kappa B Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D019169:Jurkat Cells; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D000072000:NF-KappaB Inhibitor alpha; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism*; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism; D051996:Transcription Factor RelA; D014315:Triterpenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D020298:U937 Cells; D000097245:Ursolic Acid
chemical_list: D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents; D002273:Carcinogens; D019938:Cyclin D1; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D051550:I-kappa B Kinase; D020672:I-kappa B Proteins; D007527:Isoenzymes; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D000072000:NF-KappaB Inhibitor alpha; D016328:NF-kappa B; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D051996:Transcription Factor RelA; D014315:Triterpenes; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D000097245:Ursolic Acid; C000606204:NFKBIA protein, human; C496540:PTGS2 protein, human; C496559:CHUK protein, human; C496560:IKBKB protein, human; C496565:IKBKE protein, human