title: Treatment of THP-1 cells with Uncaria tomentosa extracts differentially regulates the expression if IL-1beta and TNF-alpha.
abstract: Uncaria tomentosa, commonly known as cat's claw, is a medicinal plant native to Peru, which has been used for decades in the treatment of various inflammatory disorders. Uncaria tomentosa can be used as an antioxidant, has anti-apoptotic properties, and can enhance DNA repair, however it is best know for its anti-inflammatory properties. Treatment with Uncaria tomentosa extracts inhibits the production of the pro-inflammatory cytokine, TNF-alpha, which is a critical mediator of the immune response. In this paper, we showed that treatment of THP-1 monocyte-like cells with Uncaria tomentosa extracts inhibited the MAP kinase signaling pathway and altered cytokine expression. Using ELISA assays, we showed that treatment with Uncaria tomentosa extracts augmented LPS-dependent expression of IL-1beta by 2.4-fold, while inhibiting the LPS-dependent expression of TNF-alpha by 5.5-fold. We also showed that treatment of LPS-stimulated THP-1 cells with Uncaria tomentosa extracts blocked ERK1/2 and MEK1/2 phosphorylation in a dose-dependent manner. These data demonstrate that treatment of THP-1 cells with Uncaria tomentosa extracts has opposite effects on IL-1beta and TNF-alpha secretion, and that these changes may involve effects on the MAP kinase pathway.
authors.affiliation: Regional Cancer Program, Sudbury Regional Hospital, Sudbury, Ont, Canada.
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Allen-Hall
authors.forename: Pablo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cano
authors.forename: John T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Arnason
authors.forename: Rosario
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rojas
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Lock
authors.forename: Robert M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Lafrenie
mesh_terms: D020948:Cat's Claw / Q000737:chemistry*; D016923:Cell Death / Q000187:drug effects; D002460:Cell Line; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000378:metabolism*; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System / Q000187:drug effects; D009000:Monocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha