Effect of Hyperoside on the Gene Expression and Production of Mucin and EGFR-p44/42-Sp1signaling Pathway in Airway Epithelial Cells

Abstract

Hyperoside is an anti-inflammatory natural product derived from a medicinal plant Houttuynia cordata, empirically used as remedies for controlling the pulmonary inflammatory diseases in folk medicine. In this study, hyperoside was investigated for its potential effect on the gene expression and production of airway mucin 5AC (MUC5AC). Human airway epithelial NCI-H292 cells were pretreated with hyperoside for 30 min and stimulated with epidermal growth factor (EGF) for the following 24 h. For the elucidation of the action mechanism of hyperoside, EGFinduced epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling pathway was investigated. Hyperoside inhibited EGF-induced gene expression and production of MUC5AC mucin through regulating the phosphorylation of EGFR, phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2 (p44/42), and the nuclear expression of specificity protein-1 (Sp1). These results suggest hyperoside could regulate the gene expression and production of MUC5AC by modulating the EGFR signaling pathway in human airway epithelial cells.