title: Suppressive effects of Lithospermum erythrorhizon extracts on lipopolysaccharide-induced activation of AP-1 and NF-kappaB via mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways in mouse macrophage cells.
abstract: A variety of anti-inflammatory agents have been shown to exert chemopreventive activity via targeting of transcription factors such as NF-kappaB and AP-1. Lithospermum erythrorhizon (LE) has long been used in traditional oriental medicine. In this study, we demonstrated the inhibitory effects of LE extracts on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated production of inflammatory cytokines. As an underlying mechanism of inhibition, LE extracts reduced LPS-induced transactivation of AP-1 as well as NF-kappaB in mouse macrophage cells. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays indicated that LE extracts inhibited the DNA binding activities of AP-1 and NF-kappaB. In addition, phosphorylation of IkappaB-alpha protein was suppressed by LE extracts. Moreover, LE extracts inhibited c-Jun N-terminal kinase and extracellular signal-regulated signaling pathways. Our results suggest that the anti-inflammatory activity of LE extracts may be mediated by the inhibition of signal transduction pathways that normally lead to the activation of AP-1and NF-kappaB. These inhibitory effects may be useful for chemoprevention of cancer or other chronic inflammatory diseases.
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Biotechnology and Institute of Life Science & Resources, Kyung Hee University, Yongin 446-701, Korea.
authors.forename: Kyu Yeon
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Taek Hwan
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.forename: Tae Hoon
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Sung-Joon
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Sung-Hoon
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jiyoung
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D021581:Active Transport, Cell Nucleus / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D029684:Lithospermum / Q000737:chemistry; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System / Q000187:drug effects*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011485:Protein Binding / Q000187:drug effects; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D018808:Transcription Factor AP-1 / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D016328:NF-kappa B; D010936:Plant Extracts; D018808:Transcription Factor AP-1; D004247:DNA; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases