title: Withaferin A inhibits tumor necrosis factor-alpha-induced expression of cell adhesion molecules by inactivation of Akt and NF-kappaB in human pulmonary epithelial cells.
abstract: We here investigated the functional effect of withaferin A on airway inflammation and its action mechanism. Withaferin A inhibited the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) in human lung epithelial A549 cells stimulated with tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), resulting in the suppression of leukocyte adhesion to lung epithelial A549 cells. In addition, withaferin A inhibited TNF-alpha-induced expression of adhesion molecules (ICAM-1 and VCAM-1) protein and mRNA in a dose-dependent manner. Withaferin A prevented DNA binding activity of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) and nuclear translocation of NF-kappaB. It also inhibited phosphorylation of Akt and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), which are upstream in the regulation of adhesion molecules by TNF-alpha. Furthermore, withaferin A inhibited U937 monocyte adhesion to A549 cells stimulated by TNF-alpha, suggesting that it may inhibit the binding of these cells by regulating the expression of critical adhesion molecules by TNF-alpha. Taken together, these results suggest that withaferin A inhibits cell adhesion through inhibition of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 expression, at least in part, by blocking Akt and down-regulating NF-kappaB activity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Keimyung University, Jung-Gu, Taegu, South Korea.
authors.forename: Jung Hwa
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.forename: Taeg Kyu
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Kwon
mesh_terms: D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D004875:Ergosterol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D051058:Oncogene Protein v-akt / Q000378:metabolism; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D020545:Respiratory Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D020298:U937 Cells; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D032341:Withania; D054358:Withanolides
chemical_list: D016328:NF-kappa B; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D054358:Withanolides; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; D051058:Oncogene Protein v-akt; C009684:withaferin A; D004875:Ergosterol