International immunopharmacology
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Int. Immunopharmacol. · Jan 2014
Aspirin-triggered lipoxin A4 attenuates lipopolysaccharide induced inflammatory response in primary astrocytes.
The activation of astrocytes contributes to inflammatory responses underlying brain injury and neurodegenerative diseases. Lipoxins have emerged as mediators of endogenous anti-inflammatory events. However, the involvement of aspirin-triggered-lipoxin A4 (ATL) in astrocyte-induced neuroinflammatory responses has not been investigated. ⋯ ATL also reduced the expression of cyclooxygenase 2 and inducible nitric oxide synthase mRNA and protein. Furthermore, ATL suppressed the LPS-induced translocation of the NF-κB p65 subunit to the nucleus and prevented LPS-induced IκBα phosphorylation in a dose-dependent manner. These findings suggest that ATL attenuates neuroinflammation by inhibiting the NF-κB signal transducer pathway in cultured cortical astrocytes.
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Int. Immunopharmacol. · Jan 2014
Desoxyrhapontigenin, a potent anti-inflammatory phytochemical, inhibits LPS-induced inflammatory responses via suppressing NF-κB and MAPK pathways in RAW 264.7 cells.
This study investigates the anti-inflammatory effects of a stilbene compound, desoxyrhapontigenin, which was isolated from Rheum undulatum. To determine the anti-inflammatory effects of this compound, lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW 264.7 macrophages were treated with different concentrations of six stilbene derivatives. The results indicated that compared with other stilbene compounds, desoxyrhapontigenin (at 10, 30 and 50μM concentrations) significantly inhibited nitric oxide (NO) production, nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) activation, the protein expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression. ⋯ Activations of p-JNK1 and p-Akt were also significantly inhibited, and phosphorylation of p38 and ERK was down-regulated. A further study revealed that desoxyrhapontigenin (5 and 25mg/kg, i.p.) reduced paw swelling in carrageenan-induced acute inflammation model in vivo. On the whole, these results indicate that desoxyrhapontigenin showed anti-inflammatory properties by the inhibition of iNOS and COX-2 expression via the down-regulation of the MAPK signaling pathways and the inhibition of NF-κB and Akt activation.
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Int. Immunopharmacol. · Jan 2014
Polymorphisms of endothelin 1 (G5665T and T-1370G) and endothelin receptor type A (C+70G and G-231A) in Graves' disease.
Endothelin 1 (EDN1) is a strong angiogenic and mitogenic factor, playing a key role in hypervascularization, thyroid follicle cell hyperplasia, and lymphocyte infiltration in the thyroid gland of patients with Graves' disease (GD). EDN1 induces angiogenesis and mitogenesis via endothelin receptor type A (EDNRA). This study examined the possible association of EDN1 (G5665T and T-1370G) and EDNRA (C+70G and G-231A) single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with the occurrence of GD, and evaluates the relationship between genotypes and clinical/laboratory manifestations of GD. ⋯ Although there were no associations between EDN1 (G5665T and T-1370G) and EDNRA (C+70G and G-231A) SNPs and susceptibility to GD, EDN1 G5665T and T-1370G polymorphisms were related to alterations of autoantibody production and EDNRA C+70G polymorphism is related with increased risk for ophthalmopathy in GD patients.