Royal jelly inhibits the production of proinflammatory cytokines by activated macrophages.
In this study, we have examined the anti-inflammatory actions of royal jelly (RJ) at a cytokine level. When supernatants of RJ suspensions were added to a culture of mouse peritoneal macrophages stimulated with lipopolysaccharide and IFN-gamma, the production of proinflammatory cytokines, such as TNF-alpha, IL-6, and IL-1, was efficiently inhibited in a dose-dependent manner without having cytotoxic effects on macrophages. This suggests that RJ contains factor(s) responsible for the suppression of proinflammatory cytokine secretion. We named the factor for honeybees RJ-derived anti-inflammatory factor (HBRJ-AIF), and further investigated the molecular aspects of it. Size fractionation study showed that HBRJ-AIF is composed of substances of low (< 5 kDa) and high (> 30 kDa) molecular weights, with the former being a major component. Chromatographic analysis showed that MRJP3 is one candidate for the HBRJ-AIF with high molecular weights. Thus, our results suggest that RJ has anti-inflammatory actions through inhibiting proinflammatory cytokine production by activated macrophages.
Kohno
Keizo
K
Fujisaki Institute, Hayashibara Biochemical Laboratories, Inc., Okayama, Japan. kohnok@hayashibara.co.jp
Okamoto
Iwao
I
Sano
Osamu
O
Arai
Norie
N
Iwaki
Kanso
K
Ikeda
Masao
M
Kurimoto
Masashi
M
D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D007249:Inflammation / Q000378:metabolism; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000494:pharmacology; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology; D008262:Macrophage Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D017737:Macrophages, Peritoneal / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008970:Molecular Weight; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D000099219:Royal Jelly
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D016207:Cytokines; D005227:Fatty Acids; D006023:Glycoproteins; D019476:Insect Proteins; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D000099219:Royal Jelly; C109593:MRJP3 protein, Apis mellifera