title: Benzyl isothiocyanate exhibits anti-inflammatory effects in murine macrophages and in mouse skin.
abstract: Benzyl isothiocyanate (BITC) is detected in abundance in Brassica vegetables, and some previous studies have demonstrated that BITC may potentially function as a chemopreventive agent in humans. This study examined whether BITC inhibits lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory responses in Raw 264.7 macrophages and 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-induced ear edema formation. The treatment of macrophages with various concentrations of BITC resulted in a dose-dependent reduction in the LPS-induced secretion of interleukin (IL)-1beta, TNF-alpha, and IL-6 and their corresponding mRNA levels, as well as in the production of nitric oxide and PGE(2). Consistent with these findings, BITC inhibited the LPS-induced expressions of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 proteins and their corresponding mRNAs. BITC inhibited LPS-induced phosphorylation and the degradation of the inhibitor of kappaBalpha, translocation of p65 into the nucleus, and the DNA binding activity and transcriptional activity of NFkappaB. Moreover, the LPS-stimulated phosphorylation of extracellular signal regulated kinase (ERK)1/2 and Akt was suppressed by BITC. BITC also inhibited ear edema formation and the protein expression of iNOS and COX-2 in mouse skin treated with TPA. We demonstrate that BITC is a potent anti-inflammatory agent, and the anti-inflammatory properties of BITC may result from the downregulation of NFkappaB signaling.
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Hallym University, Chuncheon 200-702, South Korea.
authors.forename: Yeo Myeong
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Mi Ra
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Seon
authors.forename: Han Jin
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Jong-Sang
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jung Han Yoon
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Park
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D002460:Cell Line; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D015536:Down-Regulation; D004423:Ear / Q000473:pathology; D004487:Edema / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017879:Isothiocyanates / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate / Q000494:pharmacology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D017879:Isothiocyanates; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D016328:NF-kappa B; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; C031403:benzyl isothiocyanate; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate