Ephedorae herba decreases lipopolysaccharide-induced cyclooxgenase-2 protein expression and NF-kappaB-dependent transcription in C6 rat glioma cells.
We studied the effects of Mao (Ephedrae herba) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced expression of inducible cyclooxygenase (COX-2) in C6 rat glioma cells. Western blot analysis showed that Mao inhibited LPS-induced expression of COX-2 protein, but not that of constitutive cyclooxygenase. Reporter gene assays showed that Mao reduced LPS-inducible NF-kappaB-dependent transcription that plays a crucial role in induction of COX-2 gene expression. This crude drug decreased LPS-induced IkappaBalpha degradation in a concentration-dependent manner without affecting LPS-induced IkappaB phosphorylation. These results suggest that Mao prevents LPS-induced NF-kappaB-dependent transcription by inhibiting IkappaB degradation and suppresses an increase in COX-2 protein expression in C6 cells.
Aoki
Kohichi
K
Department of Pharmaceutical Molecular Biology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan.
Yamakuni
Tohru
T
Yoshida
Masaaki
M
Ohizumi
Yasushi
Y
D000818:Animals; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D051545:Cyclooxygenase 1; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D029789:Ephedra; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic / Q000187:drug effects*; D005910:Glioma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D020672:I-kappa B Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D000072000:NF-KappaB Inhibitor alpha; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000502:physiology*; D010766:Phosphorylation; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / Q000235:genetics*; D051381:Rats; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects*
D020672:I-kappa B Proteins; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D016328:NF-kappa B; C000606206:Nfkbia protein, rat; D010936:Plant Extracts; D000072000:NF-KappaB Inhibitor alpha; D051545:Cyclooxygenase 1; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases; C496513:Ptgs1 protein, rat