title: Acute effect of β-sitosterol on calcium uptake mediates anti-inflammatory effect in murine activated neutrophils.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effect of β-sitosterol on ⁴⁵Ca²⁺ uptake in activated murine neutrophils, and upon myeloperoxidase and adenosine deaminase activity, and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) levels, in carrageenan-induced inflammation in the mouse air pouch model.
  
  
  METHODS
  Dried Esenbeckia leiocarpa bark was macerated and extracted resulting in a crude hydroalcoholic extract (CHE) that was partitioned to obtain an alkaloid fraction. The alkaloid was then partitioned in polar and nonpolar subfractions. β-Sitosterol was isolated from the nonpolar subfraction and identified by comparison with the literature. The effect of β-sitosterol on ⁴⁵Ca²⁺ uptake in activated murine neutrophils, and upon myeloperoxidase and adenosine deaminase activity, IL-1β and TNF-α levels in carrageenan-induced inflammation in mice were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  β-Sitosterol promoted a time- and dose-dependent increase of the calcium uptake in activated neutrophils that was promptly reversed by nifedipine, BAPTA-AM, LY294002, and colchicine. β-Sitosterol inhibited myeloperoxidase and adenosine deaminase activity, and IL-1β and TNF-α levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  β-Sitosterol inhibited either myeloperoxidase and adenosine deaminase activity or IL-1β and TNF-α levels. This effect seemed to be mediated by the calcium uptake in activated neutrophils in a time- and concentration-dependent manner through L-type voltage dependent calcium channels, intracellular calcium, phosphoinositide kinase-3, and microtubule modulation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Analysis, Centre of Health Sciences, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Liz
authors.forename: Leila
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zanatta
authors.forename: Gustavo Oliveira
authors.initials: GO
authors.lastname: dos Reis
authors.forename: Heros
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Horst
authors.forename: Moacir Geraldo
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Pizzolatti
authors.forename: Fátima Regina Mena Barreto
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Tânia Silvia
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Fröde
mesh_terms: D000243:Adenosine Deaminase / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D058892:Adenosine Deaminase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology; D020746:Calcium Channels, L-Type / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D020013:Calcium Signaling / Q000187:drug effects*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008870:Microtubules / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D018375:Neutrophil Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D009195:Peroxidase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D058539:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase / Q000378:metabolism; D000081082:Phosphoinositide-3 Kinase Inhibitors; D010998:Pleurisy / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control; D012855:Sitosterols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D050257:Tubulin Modulators / Q000494:pharmacology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D058892:Adenosine Deaminase Inhibitors; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D020746:Calcium Channels, L-Type; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D000081082:Phosphoinositide-3 Kinase Inhibitors; D012855:Sitosterols; D050257:Tubulin Modulators; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; C025473:gamma-sitosterol; D009195:Peroxidase; D058539:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase; D000243:Adenosine Deaminase