title: Inhibitory effect of Astragalus polysaccharides on lipopolysaccharide-induced TNF-a and IL-1β production in THP-1 cells.
abstract: Astragalus polysaccharides (APS), one of main bioactive components in Astragalus membranaceus Bunge, has been reported to possess anti-inflammatory activities, but the molecular mechanisms behind this activity are largely unknown. This study aimed to investigate expression of inflammatory cytokines and the MAPK/NF-κB pathway in human THP-1 macrophages induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The results showed that the concentrations of TNF-a and IL-1β released from LPS stimulated THP-1 cells increased significantly compared to control (p < 0.01). After treatment with APS, the TNF-a and IL-1β levels were significantly lower than those in the LPS group (p < 0.05). The mRNA expression of TNF-a and IL-1β were also inhibited. Mechanistic studies indicated that APS strongly suppressed NF-κB activation and down-regulated the phosphorylation of ERK and JNK, which are important signaling pathways involved in the production of TNF-a and IL-1β, demonstrating that APS could suppress the production of TNF-a and IL-1β by LPS stimulated macrophages by inhibiting NF-κB activation and ERK and JNK phosphorylation.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Basic Research in Clinical Medicine, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China.
authors.forename: Xiaojuan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shu
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Cheng
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Aiping
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lu
mesh_terms: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D027885:Astragalus propinquus / Q000737:chemistry*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System / Q000187:drug effects; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D016328:NF-kappa B; D011134:Polysaccharides; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases