title: A sesquiterpene quinone, 5-Epi-smenospongine, promotes TNF-α production in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 Cells.
abstract: Eight sesquiterpene quinones: ilimaquinone (1), smenospongidine (3), smenospongiarine (5), smenospongine (7), and their corresponding 5-epimers 2, 4, 6, and 8, isolated from the Palauan marine sponge Hippospongia sp., were examined regarding their effects on TNF-α production in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. 5-Epi-smenospongine (8) promoted the production of TNF-α to a level three times greater than the control at 10 micron, but compounds 1-7 did not show apparent activity. The results suggest that the cis-decaline ring and a primary amine in the benzoquinone ring are necessary for activity. This is the first study to report the modulation of TNF-α production by a sesquiterpene quinone.
authors.affiliation: Kyoritsu University of Pharmacy, Shibakoen, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-8512, Japan. oda-ti@kyoritsu-ph.ac.jp
authors.forename: Taiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Oda
authors.forename: Weifang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Kazuyo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ukai
authors.forename: Takahiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakazawa
authors.forename: Masataka
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mochizuki