title: Tetrandrine inhibits proinflammatory cytokines, iNOS and COX-2 expression in human monocytic cells.
abstract: Tetrandrine (TET), a bis-benzylisoquinoline alkaloid isolated from the dried root of hang-fang-chi (Stephania tetrandra S. Moore), is traditionally used in China for treating inflammation, hypertension and silicosis. In this study, our aim was to examine the anti-inflammatory mechanism of TET through measuring the inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-1, and -2 (COX-1 and COX-2) expression, cytokines (TNF-alpha, IL-4 and IL-8) formation, nitric oxide (NO) release and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) generation in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced human monocytic (THP-1) cells. Results showed that TET remarkably suppressed the LPS (1 microg/ml) induction of NO release and PGE2 generation. It also significantly attenuated the LPS-induced transcription of proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-alpha, IL-4 and IL-8) in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, TET at 100 microM significantly blocked the LPS induction of iNOS and COX-2 expression, but not the COX-1. Taken together, these results suggest that TET exerts anti-inflammatory effects probably through the suppression of COX-2 and iNOS expression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health and Nutrition, Chia-Nan University of Pharmacy and Technology, Tainan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Shu-Jing
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Lean-Teik
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Ng
mesh_terms: D000470:Alkaloids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D044182:Benzylisoquinolines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002460:Cell Line; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D051545:Cyclooxygenase 1 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D015232:Dinoprostone / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D009000:Monocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis
chemical_list: D000470:Alkaloids; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D044182:Benzylisoquinolines; D016207:Cytokines; C508598:IL4 protein, human; D016209:Interleukin-8; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D015847:Interleukin-4; C009438:tetrandrine; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D051545:Cyclooxygenase 1; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; C496540:PTGS2 protein, human; D015232:Dinoprostone