title: Freshwater clam extract inhibits inflammatory responses in LPS-activated macrophages by reducing the activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases and NF-kappaB.
abstract: Recent studies demonstrated that freshwater clam (Corbicula fluminea) has lipid-lowering and hepatoprotective activities, but its effect on immune responses has not yet been addressed. Here we showed that ethanol extracts of C. fluminea (ECF) reduced nitrite oxide, interleukin-1beta, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha in lipopolysaccharide-activated macrophages. Further, ECF was fractionated into n-hexane, ethyl acetate, ethanol, and water soluble fractions. Of these, the ethyl acetate soluble fraction (EACF) had the highest capacity to inhibit pro-inflammatory mediators expression. The underlying mechanisms for the anti-inflammatory activity of EACF were demonstrated as down-regulation of ERK1/2, JNK1/2, and p38 phosphorylation and NF-kappaB activity. Using gas chromatography-mass spectrometric analysis EACF was found to be composed mainly of fatty acids and steroids. Our results provide evidence that freshwater clam has anti-inflammatory activity, and support the possibility for the development of freshwater clam as a health supplement or adjuvant therapeutic agent for either preventing or treating inflammation related diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology and Animal Science, National Ilan University, 1 Shen-Lung Rd., Ilan, Taiwan 260.
authors.forename: Kuo-Feng
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Hua
authors.forename: Guan-Ming
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Chen-Lung
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.forename: Ming-Chung
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yi-Lin Sophia
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Wei-Jung
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Jeng-Fang
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Yuan-Shing
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Perng
authors.forename: Chai-Ching
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D049872:Bivalvia / Q000737:chemistry*; D002460:Cell Line; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000032:analysis* / Q000494:pharmacology; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000378:metabolism; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D007155:Immunologic Factors; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D015850:Interleukin-6; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D016328:NF-kappa B; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases