title: Cryptotanshinone suppressed inflammatory cytokines secretion in RAW264.7 macrophages through inhibition of the NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways.
abstract: Cryptotanshinone (CTS), a major constituent extracted from the medicinal herb Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge, has well-documented antioxidative and anti-inflammatory effects. In the present study, the pharmacological effects and underlying molecular mechanisms of CTS on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory responses were investigated. By enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, we observed that CTS reduced significantly the production of proinflammatory mediators (tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-6) induced by LPS in murine macrophage-like RAW264.7 cells. Mechanistically, CTS inhibited markedly the phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), including ERK1/2, p38MAPK, and JNK, which are crucially involved in regulation of proinflammatory mediator secretion. Moreover, immunofluorescence and western blot analysis indicated that CTS abolished completely LPS-triggered nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) activation. Taken together, these data implied that NF-κB and MAPKs might be the potential molecular targets for clarifying the protective effects of CTS on LPS-induced inflammatory cytokine production in macrophages.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Wai Huan Dong Road 132, Higher Education Mega Center, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Shu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Xiao-Yan
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: He-Qing
authors.initials: HQ
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Suo-Wen
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Chang-Hua
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Shao-Rui
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Kang
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Le
authors.forename: Yu-Hua
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Pei-Qing
authors.initials: PQ
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002460:Cell Line; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000276:immunology; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System / Q000187:drug effects*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism*; D010616:Phenanthrenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism; D000093242:Interleukin-6 Inhibitors
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D016328:NF-kappa B; D010616:Phenanthrenes; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D000093242:Interleukin-6 Inhibitors; C037886:cryptotanshinone