Abstract
BackgroundMacrophages play a crucial role in inflammation. Astilbe chinensis is one of perennial herbs belonging to the genus Astilbe. Plants in the genus have been used for pain, headaches, arthralgia, and chronic bronchitis. However, the effect of A.chinensis on inflammation remains unclear. To study the anti-inflammatory action of A.chinensis ethanol extract (ACE), we investigated the effect of ACE on the production of pro-inflammatory mediators and cytokines in macrophages.MethodsWe evaluated the effectiveness of ACE in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages and thioglycollate (TG)-elicited peritoneal macrophages from male C57BL/6 mice. We measured the levels of pro-inflammatory mediators and cytokines, and examined the anti-inflammatory actions of ACE on nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) pathway in the macrophages. Western blot analysis and immunofluorescence microscopy were used to determine protein level and translocation, respectively.ResultsACE suppressed the output of nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), and pro-inflammatory cytokines in stimulated macrophages via inhibiting the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) proteins. ACE suppressed mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α). We examined the efficacies of ACE on NF-κB activation by measuring the expressions including IκB kinase (IKK), inhibitor of κB (IκB), and nuclear p65 proteins. In addition, the inhibition of NF-κB p65’s translocation was determined with immunofluorescence assay.ConclusionOur findings manifested that ACE inhibited LPS or TG-induced inflammation by blocking the NF-κB signaling pathway in macrophages. It indicated that ACE is a potential therapeutic mean for inflammation and related diseases.
Highlights
Macrophages play a crucial role in inflammation
Primary antibodies including inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), COX-2, nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) p65, p-inhibitor of κB (IκB)-α, IκB-α, and βactin monocolonal antibodies were bought from Santa Cruz Biotechnology (Santa Cruz, CA, USA). p-IκB kinase (IKK)-α/β, IKK-α/β, and PARP antibodies were got from Cell Signaling Technology (Danvers, MA, USA)
When macrophages are exposed to LPS, the expression of iNOS results in the overproduction of Nitric oxide (NO) [21]. iNOS is an NO synthase, which indicates that the suppression of iNOS expression directly correlates with NO production in inflammatory responses [22]
Summary
Macrophages play a crucial role in inflammation. Astilbe chinensis is one of perennial herbs belonging to the genus Astilbe. The effect of A.chinensis on inflammation remains unclear. To study the anti-inflammatory action of A.chinensis ethanol extract (ACE), we investigated the effect of ACE on the production of pro-inflammatory mediators and cytokines in macrophages. Target cells like macrophages can be induced by physical, microbial, chemical, and immune logical reactions producing inflammatory responses [1]. Macrophages are crucial in directing the host immune response against infection as well as in many pathophysiological processes associated with inflammation. They are strong secretory cells releasing a set of pro-inflammatory mediators [2]. Nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and interleukins (ILs) are pro-inflammatory mediators and cytokines which promote inflammatory responses
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