title: Chicoric acid suppresses BAFF expression in B lymphocytes by inhibiting NF-κB activity.
abstract: B cell activating factor belonging to the TNF family (BAFF) plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. The inhibition of BAFF expression is an emerging therapeutic approach for these disorders. Chicoric acid (CA), a bioactive phytochemical found in several widely used traditional medicinal plants, has significant anti-inflammatory activity and anti-arthritic effects. However, the role of CA in modulation of BAFF expression remains unknown. In this study, we demonstrated that CA reduced BAFF expression in human B lymphocyte cell lines and decreased the DNA-binding activity of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) in the BAFF promoter region. Furthermore, CA inhibited both the nuclear translocation of p65 (the subunit of NF-κB) and the phosphorylation of IκBα (inhibitor of NF-κB). These results suggest that CA suppresses BAFF expression by inhibiting NF-κB activity, and CA may serve as a novel therapeutic agent to down-regulate excessive BAFF expression in autoimmune diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Basic Medical Science, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China.
authors.forename: Lingxi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Basic Medical Science, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China.
authors.forename: Gang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Basic Medical Science, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China.
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Basic Medical Science, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China.
authors.forename: Xiaodong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Basic Medical Science, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Gong
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Basic Medical Science, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China.
authors.forename: Zhizhen
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Basic Medical Science, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China.
authors.forename: Yijun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Basic Medical Science, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China. Electronic address: hefengtian06@aliyun.com.
authors.forename: Fengtian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: He
mesh_terms: D021581:Active Transport, Cell Nucleus / Q000187:drug effects; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D053264:B-Cell Activating Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D002109:Caffeic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002460:Cell Line; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism*; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D011485:Protein Binding / Q000187:drug effects; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D013386:Succinates / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D053264:B-Cell Activating Factor; D002109:Caffeic Acids; D016328:NF-kappa B; D013386:Succinates; C505719:TNFSF13B protein, human; C100435:chicoric acid
keywords: Autoimmune diseases; B cell activating factor belonging to the TNF family; Chicoric acid; NF-κB