title: Effects of monascin on anti-inflammation mediated by Nrf2 activation in advanced glycation end product-treated THP-1 monocytes and methylglyoxal-treated wistar rats.
abstract: Hyperglycemia is associated with advanced glycation end products (AGEs). This study was designed to evaluate the inhibitory effects of monascin on receptor for advanced glycation end product (RAGE) signal and THP-1 monocyte inflammation after treatment with S100b, a specific ligand of RAGE. Monascin inhibited cytokine production by S100b-treated THP-1 monocytes via up-regulation of nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor-2 (Nrf2) and alleviated p47phox translocation to the membrane. Methylglyoxal (MG, 600 mg/kg bw) was used to induce diabetes in Wistar rats. Inhibitions of RAGE and p47phox by monascin were confirmed by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of MG-induced rats. Silymarin (SM) was used as a positive control group. It was found that monascin promoted heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) expression mediated by Nrf2. Suppressions of AGEs, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interleukin-1β (IL-β) in serum of MG-induced rats were attenuated in the monascin administration group treated with retinoic acid (RA). RA treatment resulted in Nrf2 inactivation by increasing RA receptor-α (RARα) activity, suggesting that RA acts as an inhibitor of Nrf2. The results showed that monascin exerted anti-inflammatory and antioxidative effects mediated by Nrf2 to prevent the development of diseases such as type 2 diabetes caused by inflammation.
authors: Department of Biochemical Science and Technology, College of Life Science, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Sec. 4, Roosevelt Road, Taipei 10617, Taiwan.
authors: Bao-Hong
authors: BH
authors: Lee
authors: Wei-Hsuan
authors: WH
authors: Hsu
authors: Tao
authors: T
authors: Huang
authors: Yu-Ying
authors: YY
authors: Chang
authors: Ya-Wen
authors: YW
authors: Hsu
authors: Tzu-Ming
authors: TM
authors: Pan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002460:Cell Line; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D017127:Glycation End Products, Advanced / Q000276:immunology*; D006575:Heterocyclic Compounds, 3-Ring / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009000:Monocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D051267:NF-E2-Related Factor 2 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D011765:Pyruvaldehyde / Q000276:immunology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D017127:Glycation End Products, Advanced; D006575:Heterocyclic Compounds, 3-Ring; D051267:NF-E2-Related Factor 2; D011765:Pyruvaldehyde; C517880:monascin