title: Monascin attenuates oxidative stress-mediated lung inflammation via peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPAR-γ) and nuclear factor-erythroid 2 related factor 2 (Nrf-2) modulation.
abstract: We speculated that peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-γ agonists may modulate the oxidative stress pathway to ameliorate the development of airway inflammation. The effect of Monascus-fermented metabolite monascin (MS) and rosiglitazone (Rosi) on oxidative stress-induced lung inflammation was evaluated. Luciferase assay and DNA binding activity assay were used to point out that MS may be a novel PPAR-γ agonist and nuclear factor-erythroid 2 related factor 2 (Nrf-2) activator. We used hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) to induce inflammation in lung epithelial cells. MS and Rosi prevented H2O2-induced ROS generation in A549 epithelial cells through PPAR-γ translocation, avoiding inflammatory mediator expression via inhibiting nuclear factor (NF)-κB translocation. The regulatory ability of MS was abolished by siRNA against PPAR-γ. MS also elevated antioxidant enzyme expression via Nrf-2 activation. Both PPAR-γ and Nrf-2 might have benefits against lung inflammation. MS regulated PPAR-γ and Nrf-2 to improve lung oxidative inflammation.
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: Tzu-Ming
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Pan
mesh_terms: D002460:Cell Line; D006575:Heterocyclic Compounds, 3-Ring / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D032741:Monascus / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D051267:NF-E2-Related Factor 2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D047495:PPAR gamma / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D006575:Heterocyclic Compounds, 3-Ring; D051267:NF-E2-Related Factor 2; D047495:PPAR gamma; C517880:monascin