Factor XII drives CNS autoimmunity via CD87-mediated modulation of dendritic cells

Abstract

The inflammatory response that is early, non-specific immune reaction to tissue damage or pathogen invasion, plays an important role in the initiation and progression of Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, and other neurodegenerative disorders. The release of pro-inflammatory mediators initiates the cascades of events leading into development of these neurodegenerative diseases. Recently, plant based products are used as an alternative and complementary treatment of these diseases. In this regard, the present studywas aimed to investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of Urtica urens (Small nettle) leaf extracts prepared with increasing polarity in A549 cell line. In this respect, firstly, extracts of dried stinging nettle leaves were prepared by using hexane, chloroform and ethyl acetate according to increasing polarity. All of these extracts were tested for their anti-inflammatory effects on selected pro-inflammatory an inflammatory in A549 cells. Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα), nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), C–X–C motif chemokine 10 (CXCL10), and 11 (CXCL11) levels were determined by western blot and quantitative reverse transcriptase-PCR assay (qRT-PCR) in these cells. All of the extracts caused decrease in protein and mRNA levels of NF-κB in this cell line. On the other hand, TNF-α, CXCL10 and CXCL11 expression levels decreased. All these results put the hypothesis that the small nettle plant extracts derived from lower polarity contain promising phytochemicals that may be used in neurodegenerative diseases treatment. In order to test this hypothesis and to detect the presence of new active substances, activity guided fractionation experiment has been still continuing. This work is supported by TUBITAK 111 T515.