title: Luteolin reduces IL-6 production in microglia by inhibiting JNK phosphorylation and activation of AP-1.
abstract: Luteolin, a flavonoid found in high concentrations in celery and green pepper, has been shown to reduce production of proinflammatory mediators in LPS-stimulated macrophages, fibroblasts, and intestinal epithelial cells. Because excessive production of proinflammatory cytokines by activated brain microglia can cause behavioral pathology and neurodegeneration, we sought to determine whether luteolin also regulates microglial cell production of a prototypic inflammatory cytokine, IL-6. Pretreatment of primary murine microlgia and BV-2 microglial cells with luteolin inhibited LPS-stimulated IL-6 production at both the mRNA and protein levels. To determine how luteolin inhibited IL-6 production in microglia, EMSAs were performed to establish the effects of luteolin on LPS-induced binding of transcription factors to the NF-kappaB and activator protein-1 (AP-1) sites on the IL-6 promoter. Whereas luteolin had no effect on the LPS-induced increase in NF-kappaB DNA binding activity, it markedly reduced AP-1 transcription factor binding activity. Consistent with this finding, luteolin did not inhibit LPS-induced degradation of IkappaB-alpha but inhibited JNK phosphorylation. To determine whether luteolin might have similar effects in vivo, mice were provided drinking water supplemented with luteolin for 21 days and then they were injected i.p. with LPS. Luteolin consumption reduced LPS-induced IL-6 in plasma 4 h after injection. Furthermore, luteolin decreased the induction of IL-6 mRNA by LPS in hippocampus but not in the cortex or cerebellum. Taken together, these data suggest luteolin inhibits LPS-induced IL-6 production in the brain by inhibiting the JNK signaling pathway and activation of AP-1 in microglia. Thus, luteolin may be useful for mitigating neuroinflammation.
authors.affiliation: Division of Nutritional Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1207 West Gregory Drive, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.
authors.forename: Saebyeol
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.forename: Keith W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Kelley
authors.forename: Rodney W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Johnson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism; D004660:Encephalitis / Q000276:immunology; D051550:I-kappa B Kinase / Q000378:metabolism; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology; D047311:Luteolin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D017628:Microglia / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects; D011485:Protein Binding / Q000187:drug effects; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D018808:Transcription Factor AP-1 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015850:Interleukin-6; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D016328:NF-kappa B; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018808:Transcription Factor AP-1; D004247:DNA; C496564:Chuk protein, mouse; D051550:I-kappa B Kinase; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D047311:Luteolin