title: Tormentic acid inhibits H2O2-induced oxidative stress and inflammation in rat vascular smooth muscle cells via inhibition of the NF-κB signaling pathway.
abstract: Tormentic acid (TA) is a triterpene isolated from the stem bark of the plant Vochysia divergens and has been reported to exhibit anticancer, anti‑inflammatory and anti‑atherogenic properties. However, the functions of TA in hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)‑induced oxidative stress and inflammation in rat vascular smooth muscle cells (RVSMCs) remain unclear. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate whether TA suppressed H2O2‑induced oxidative stress and inflammation in RVSMCs, and to determine its molecular mechanisms. The present study demonstrated that TA inhibited reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, induced H2O2 in RVSMCs, and inhibited H2O2-induced expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and NADPH oxidase (NOX) in RVSMCs. In addition, TA significantly decreased the production of tumor necrosis factor‑α (TNF‑α), interleukin 6 (IL‑6) and IL‑1β. Furthermore, TA pretreatment prevented nuclear factor‑κB (NF‑κB) subunit p65 phosphorylation and NF‑κB inhibitor α (IκBα) degradation induced by H2O2 in RVSMCs. TA is, therefore, suggested to inhibit H2O2-induced oxidative stress and inflammation in RVSMCs via inhibition of the NF‑κB signaling pathway. TA may have potential as a pharmacological agent in the prevention or treatment of atherosclerosis.
authors: Department of Endocrinology, People's Hospital of Tianjin City, Tianjin 300121, P.R. China.
authors: Yu-Lun
authors: YL
authors: Wang
authors: Department of Cardiology, Tianjin Chest Hospital, Tianjin 300131, P.R. China.
authors: Gen-Yi
authors: GY
authors: Sun
authors: Department of Cardiology, Tianjin Chest Hospital, Tianjin 300131, P.R. China.
authors: Ying
authors: Y
authors: Zhang
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Hongqiao Hospital of Tianjin City, Tianjin 300051, P.R. China.
authors: Jia-Jun
authors: JJ
authors: He
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Hongqiao Hospital of Tianjin City, Tianjin 300051, P.R. China.
authors: Shen
authors: S
authors: Zheng
authors: Department of Endocrinology, People's Hospital of Tianjin City, Tianjin 300121, P.R. China.
authors: Jing-Na
authors: JN
authors: Lin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000276:immunology; D007249:Inflammation / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D032389:Myocytes, Smooth Muscle / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000276:immunology*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000276:immunology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D014315:Triterpenes / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D016328:NF-kappa B; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D014315:Triterpenes; C007695:euscaphic acid; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide