title: Inhibition of Th2 cytokine production in T cells by monascin via PPAR-γ activation.
abstract: Yellow pigment monascin (MS) is a secondary metabolite isolated from Monascus -fermented products and has numerous physiological activities. However, the potential use of MS for immunomodulation remains unclear. We showed that MS and the synthetic peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-γ ligand rosiglitazone (RG) significantly inhibited the production of Th2 cytokines, including IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13, in PMA/ionomycin-activated mouse EL-4 T cells. Moreover, we showed that this was due to cellular PPAR-γ translocation. These results indicate that MS and RG promote PPAR-γ-DNA interactions and suggest that the regulatory effects of MS and RG on Th2 cytokine production could be abolished with PPAR-γ antagonist treatment. MS and RG also suppressed Th2 transcription factor translocation (e.g., GATA-3 and nuclear factor of activated T cells) by preventing the phosphorylation of protein kinase C and signal transducer and activator of transcription 6.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemical Science and Technology, College of Life Science, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Sec. 4, Roosevelt Road, Taipei 10617, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Wei-Hsuan
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: Bao-Hong
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Ya-Wen
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: Tzu-Ming
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Pan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D006575:Heterocyclic Compounds, 3-Ring / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051379:Mice; D032741:Monascus / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D012275:Oryza / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology; D047495:PPAR gamma / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D006575:Heterocyclic Compounds, 3-Ring; D047495:PPAR gamma; C517880:monascin