Caffeic acid phenethyl ester protects mice from lethal endotoxin shock and inhibits lipopolysaccharide-induced cyclooxygenase-2 and inducible nitric oxide synthase expression in RAW 264.7 macrophages via the p38/ERK and NF-kappaB pathways.
Caffeic acid phenethyl ester has been shown to have anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer effects. We examined the effects of caffeic acid phenethyl ester on lipopolysaccharide-induced production of nitric oxide and prostaglandin E2, and expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 in RAW 264.7 macrophages. We also investigated the effects of caffeic acid phenethyl ester on lipopolysaccharide-induced septic shock in mice. Our results indicate that caffeic acid phenethyl ester inhibits lipopolysaccharide-induced nitric oxide and prostaglandin E2 production in a concentration-dependent manner and inhibits inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 in RAW 264.7 cells, without significant cytotoxicity. To further examine the mechanism responsible for the inhibition of inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 expression by caffeic acid phenethyl ester, we examined the effect of caffeic acid phenethyl ester on lipopolysaccharide-induced nuclear factor-kappaB activation and the phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases. Caffeic acid phenethyl ester treatment significantly reduced nuclear factor-kappaB translocation and DNA-binding in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. This effect was mediated through the inhibition of the degradation of inhibitor kappaB and by inhibition of both p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase and extracellular signal-regulated kinase phosphorylation, at least in part by inhibiting the generation of reactive oxygen species. Furthermore, caffeic acid phenethyl ester rescued C57BL/6 mice from lethal lipopolysaccharide-induced septic shock, while decreasing serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-1beta. Collectively, these results suggest that caffeic acid phenethyl ester suppresses the induction of cytokines by lipopolysaccharide, as well as inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 expression, by blocking nuclear factor-kappaB and p38/ERK activation. These findings provide mechanistic insights into the anti-inflammatory and chemopreventive actions of caffeic acid phenethyl ester in macrophages.
Department of Marine Life Science, Chosun University, Gwangju 501-759, South Korea.
Won-Kyo
WK
Jung
Inhak
I
Choi
Da-Young
DY
Lee
Sung Su
SS
Yea
Yung Hyun
YH
Choi
Moon-Moo
MM
Kim
Sae-Gwang
SG
Park
Su-Kil
SK
Seo
Soo-Woong
SW
Lee
Chang-Min
CM
Lee
Yeong-Min
YM
Park
Il-Whan
IW
Choi
D000818:Animals; D002109:Caffeic Acids / Q000378:metabolism*; D002460:Cell Line; D002470:Cell Survival; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015232:Dinoprostone / Q000378:metabolism; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000378:metabolism; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000633:toxicity; D008264:Macrophages / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D015394:Molecular Structure; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D010626:Phenylethyl Alcohol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000378:metabolism; D012772:Shock, Septic / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
D002109:Caffeic Acids; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D016328:NF-kappa B; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; C055494:caffeic acid phenethyl ester; D015232:Dinoprostone; D010626:Phenylethyl Alcohol