Cryptotanshinone suppressed inflammatory cytokines secretion in RAW264.7 macrophages through inhibition of the NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways.
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.
Tang
Shu
S
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.
Shen
Xiao-Yan
XY
Huang
He-Qing
HQ
Xu
Suo-Wen
SW
Yu
Yang
Y
Zhou
Chang-Hua
CH
Chen
Shao-Rui
SR
Le
Kang
K
Wang
Yu-Hua
YH
Liu
Pei-Qing
PQ
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
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