Rhizoma Coptidis inhibits LPS-induced MCP-1/CCL2 production in murine macrophages via an AP-1 and NFkappaB-dependent pathway.
BACKGROUND
The Chinese extract Rhizoma coptidis is well known for its anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, antiviral, and antimicrobial activity. The exact mechanisms of action are not fully understood.


METHODS
We examined the effect of the extract and its main compound, berberine, on LPS-induced inflammatory activity in a murine macrophage cell line. RAW 264.7 cells were stimulated with LPS and incubated with either Rhizoma coptidis extract or berberine. Activation of AP-1 and NFkappaB was analyzed in nuclear extracts, secretion of MCP-1/CCL2 was measured in supernatants.


RESULTS
Incubation with Rhizoma coptidis and berberine strongly inhibited LPS-induced monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1 production in RAW cells. Activation of the transcription factors AP-1 and NFkappaB was inhibited by Rhizoma coptidis in a dose- and time-dependent fashion.


CONCLUSIONS
Rhizoma coptidis extract inhibits LPS-induced MCP-1/CCL2 production in vitro via an AP-1 and NFkappaB-dependent pathway. Anti-inflammatory action of the extract is mediated mainly by its alkaloid compound berberine.
Remppis
Andrew
A
Medizinische Klinik III, Universität Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
Bea
Florian
F
Greten
Henry Johannes
HJ
Buttler
Annette
A
Wang
Hongjie
H
Zhou
Qianxing
Q
Preusch
Michael R
MR
Enk
Ronny
R
Ehehalt
Robert
R
Katus
Hugo
H
Blessing
Erwin
E
D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001599:Berberine / Q000494:pharmacology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018932:Chemokine CCL2 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D000089042:Coptis chinensis; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000502:physiology*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000096:biosynthesis; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D018808:Transcription Factor AP-1 / Q000502:physiology*
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; C491768:Ccl2 protein, mouse; D018932:Chemokine CCL2; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D016328:NF-kappa B; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D018808:Transcription Factor AP-1; D001599:Berberine; D018664:Interleukin-12; D009569:Nitric Oxide; C107393:Coptidis rhizoma extract