Sulforaphane suppresses oligomerization of TLR4 in a thiol-dependent manner.
TLRs are pattern recognition receptors that detect invading microorganisms and nonmicrobial endogenous molecules to trigger immune and inflammatory responses during host defense and tissue repair. TLR activity is closely linked to the risk of many inflammatory diseases and immune disorders. Therefore, TLR signaling pathways can provide efficient therapeutic targets for chronic diseases. Sulforaphane (SFN), an isothiocyanate, has been well known for its anti-inflammatory activities. In this study, we investigated the modulation of TLR activity by SFN and the underlying mechanism. SFN suppressed ligand-induced and ligand-independent TLR4 activation because it prevented IL-1R-associated kinase-1 degradation, activation of NF-kappaB and IFN regulatory factor 3, and cyclooxygenase-2 expression induced by LPS or overexpression of TLR4. Receptor oligomerization, which is one of the initial and critical events of TLR4 activation, was suppressed by SFN, resulting in the downregulation of NF-kappaB activation. SFN formed adducts with cysteine residues in the extracellular domain of TLR4 as confirmed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry analysis and the inhibitory effects of SFN on oligomerization and NF-kappaB activation were reversed by thiol donors (DTT and N-acetyl-L-cysteine). These suggest that the reactivity of SFN to sulfhydryl moiety contributes to its inhibitory activities. Blockade of TLR4 signaling by SFN resulted in the reduced production of inflammatory cytokines and the decreased dermal inflammation and edema in vivo in experimental inflammatory animal models. Collectively, our results demonstrated that SFN downregulated TLR4 signaling through the suppression of oligomerization process in a thiol-dependent manner. These present a novel mechanism for beneficial effects of SFN and a novel anti-inflammatory target in TLR4 signaling.
Youn
Hyung Sun
HS
Department of Biomedical Laboratory Science, College of Medical Sciences, Soonchunhyang University, Asan, Korea.
Kim
Yoon Sun
YS
Park
Zee Yong
ZY
Kim
So Young
SY
Choi
Na Young
NY
Joung
Sun Myung
SM
Seo
Jung A
JA
Lim
Kyung-Min
KM
Kwak
Mi-Kyoung
MK
Hwang
Daniel H
DH
Lee
Joo Young
JY
D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002460:Cell Line; D002853:Chromatography, Liquid; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D047468:Immunoprecipitation; D017879:Isothiocyanates; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology; D013454:Sulfoxides; D053719:Tandem Mass Spectrometry; D013861:Thiocyanates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051197:Toll-Like Receptor 4 / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D014162:Transfection
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D017879:Isothiocyanates; D016328:NF-kappa B; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds; D013454:Sulfoxides; D013861:Thiocyanates; C493487:Tlr4 protein, mouse; D051197:Toll-Like Receptor 4; C016766:sulforaphane