title: The anti-inflammatory potential of neuropeptide FF in vitro and in vivo.
abstract: Neuropeptide FF (NPFF) has many functions in regulating various biological processes. However, little attention has been focused on the anti-inflammatory effect of this peptide. In the present study, the in vitro anti-inflammatory activity of NPFF in both primary peritoneal macrophages and RAW 264.7 macrophages was investigated. Our data showed that NPFF suppressed the nitric oxide (NO) production of macrophages in the inflammation process. RF9, a reported antagonist of NPFF receptors, completely blocked the NPFF-induced NO suppression, suggesting a NPFF receptors-mediated pathway is mainly involved. Down-regulation of the nitric oxide synthases significantly inhibited the NPFF-induced NO reduction, indicating the involvement of nitric oxide synthases. However, the nitric oxide synthases were not the only route by which NPFF modulated the NO levels of macrophages. Pharmacological antagonists of the NF-κB signal pathway also completely suppressed the NPFF-induced NO decline. Moreover, we also observed that NPFF is capable of blocking the LPS-induced nuclear translocation of p65 in macrophages, implying the involvement of the NF-κB signal pathway. Finally, we observed that NPFF markedly attenuated the carrageenan-induced mouse paw edema, indicating that NPFF is capable of exerting anti-inflammatory potency in vivo. Collectively, our findings reveal the potential role of NPFF in the anti-inflammatory field both in vitro and in vivo, which will be helpful for the further exploitation of NPFF utility therapeutically.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Life Sciences, Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, Institute of Physiology & Psychology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, 222 Tian Shui South Road, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, China.
authors.forename: Yu-Long
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Xiao-Yuan
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Ning
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Jing-Yi
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhuang
authors.forename: Qian
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Quan
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000218:Adamantane / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002351:Carrageenan; D002460:Cell Line; D004151:Dipeptides / Q000494:pharmacology; D004487:Edema / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology; D017737:Macrophages, Peritoneal / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D009842:Oligopeptides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D061251:Primary Cell Culture; D021381:Protein Transport / Q000187:drug effects; D011759:Pyrrolidines / Q000494:pharmacology; D018013:Receptors, Neuropeptide / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013859:Thiocarbamates / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D004151:Dipeptides; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D016328:NF-kappa B; D009842:Oligopeptides; D011759:Pyrrolidines; D018013:Receptors, Neuropeptide; D013859:Thiocarbamates; C508361:adamantylcarbonyl-arginyl-phenylalaninamide; C083929:neuropeptide FF receptor; C020972:pyrrolidine dithiocarbamic acid; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D002351:Carrageenan; C053651:phenylalanyl-leucyl-phenylalanyl-glutaminyl-prolyl-glutaminyl-arginyl-phenylalaninamide; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D000218:Adamantane
keywords: Inflammation; Macrophage; NF-κB; Neuropeptide FF; Neuropeptide FF 2 receptor; Nitric oxide