Published in:
01-12-2012
Imperatorin Attenuates LPS-Induced Inflammation by Suppressing NF-κB and MAPKs Activation in RAW 264.7 Macrophages
Authors:
Weixiao Guo, Jingjing Sun, Lanxiang Jiang, Lingxin Duan, Meixia Huo, Na Chen, Weiting Zhong, Lanan Wassy, Zhenguo Yang, Haihua Feng
Published in:
Inflammation
|
Issue 6/2012
Login to get access
Abstract
Imperatorin is a type of coumarin compound with antibacterial and antiviral activities. In the present study, we examined the anti-inflammatory effects of imperatorin in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages by investigating its impact on the production and expression of cytokines and the major signal-transduction pathways. We found that imperatorin downregulated LPS-induced levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 in RAW 264.7 macrophages in a concentration-dependent manner, and it significantly inhibited expression of TNF-α and IL-6 (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). The phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases and nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB) p65 protein were analyzed by western blotting. In RAW 264.7 macrophages treated with 1 mg/L of LPS, imperatorin significantly inhibited p38 and Jun N-terminal kinase phosphorylation protein expression. However, there was no significant change in p-ERK. Furthermore, imperatorin also inhibited NF-κB translocation into the nucleus through blockage of IκBα phosphorylation and degradation.