title: Rocaglamide derivatives are immunosuppressive phytochemicals that target NF-AT activity in T cells.
abstract: Aglaia (family Meliaceae) plants are used in traditional medicine (e.g., in Vietnam) for the treatment of inflammatory skin diseases and allergic inflammatory disorders such as asthma. Inflammatory diseases arise from inappropriate activation of the immune system, leading to abnormal expression of genes encoding inflammatory cytokines and tissue-destructive enzymes. The active compounds isolated from these plants are derivatives of rocaglamide. In this study we show that rocaglamides are potent immunosuppressive phytochemicals that suppress IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha, IL-2, and IL-4 production in peripheral blood T cells at nanomolar concentrations. We demonstrate that rocaglamides inhibit cytokine gene expression at the transcriptional level. At the doses that inhibit cytokine production, they selectively block NF-AT activity without impairing NF-kappaB and AP-1. We also show that inhibition of NF-AT activation by rocaglamide is mediated by strong activation of JNK and p38 kinases. Our study suggests that rocaglamide derivatives may serve as a new source of NF-AT-specific inhibitors for the treatment of certain inflammatory diseases.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pharmaceutical Biology, University of Dusseldorf, Germany.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Proksch
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Giaisi
authors.forename: Monika K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Treiber
authors.forename: Katalin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Palfi
authors.forename: Anette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Merling
authors.forename: Herbert
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Spring
authors.forename: Peter H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Krammer
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Li-Weber
mesh_terms: D031602:Aglaia / Q000737:chemistry*; D001572:Benzofurans / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D016207:Cytokines / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D019169:Jurkat Cells; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D050778:NFATC Transcription Factors; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D016755:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D001572:Benzofurans; D016207:Cytokines; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D016328:NF-kappa B; D050778:NFATC Transcription Factors; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D016755:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014157:Transcription Factors; C107772:rocaglamide; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases