Zerumbone, an anti-inflammatory phytochemical, induces expression of proinflammatory cytokine genes in human colon adenocarcinoma cell lines.
Zerumbone, a sesquiterpene occurring in zingiberaceous plants in Southeast Asian countries, has been shown to have anti-inflammatory effects in several independent experimental studies. We examined its effect on the expression of proinflammatory genes in human colon adenocarcinoma cell lines, Caco-2, Colo320DM, and HT-29, using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assays. Surprisingly, zerumbone markedly induced the expression of interleukin (IL)-1alpha, IL-1beta, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha in each cell line in concentration- and time-dependent manners. Results of a previous pharmacological approach using specific inhibitors of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) suggested that the activation of both c-Jun N-terminal kinase and extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase, however, not that of p38 MAPK, may be involved in zerumbone-induced IL-1beta expression pathways in Caco-2 cells. The present results imply that zerumbone increases the production of proinflammatory cytokines in cancerous tissues in the colon and that this biochemical property may cause side-effects.
Murakami
Akira
A
Division of Food Science and Biotechnology, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan. cancer@kais.kyoto-u.ac.jp
Miyamoto
Masaaki
M
Ohigashi
Hajime
H
D000230:Adenocarcinoma; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012717:Sesquiterpenes / Q000494:pharmacology*
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D016207:Cytokines; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012717:Sesquiterpenes; C403304:zerumbone