scholarly journals Effects of Apigenin on RBL-2H3, RAW264.7, and HaCaT Cells: Anti-Allergic, Anti-Inflammatory, and Skin-Protective Activities

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (13) ◽  
pp. 4620 ◽  
Author(s):  
Che-Hwon Park ◽  
Seon-Young Min ◽  
Hye-Won Yu ◽  
Kyungmin Kim ◽  
Suyeong Kim ◽  
...  

Apigenin (4′,5,7-trihydroxyflavone, flavonoid) is a phenolic compound that is known to reduce the risk of chronic disease owing to its low toxicity. The first study on apigenin analyzed its effect on histamine release in the 1950s. Since then, anti-mutation and antitumor properties of apigenin have been widely reported. In the present study, we evaluated the apigenin-mediated amelioration of skin disease and investigated its applicability as a functional ingredient, especially in cosmetics. The effect of apigenin on RAW264.7 (murine macrophage), RBL-2H3 (rat basophilic leukemia), and HaCaT (human immortalized keratinocyte) cells were analyzed. Apigenin (100 μM) significantly inhibited nitric oxide (NO) production, cytokine expression (interleukin (IL)-1β, IL6, cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, and inducible nitric oxide synthase [iNOS]), and phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signal molecules, including extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and c-Jun N-terminal protein kinase (JNK) in RAW264.7 cells. Apigenin (30 μM) also inhibited the phosphorylation of signaling molecules (Lyn, Syk, phospholipase Cγ1, ERK, and JNK) and the expression of high-affinity IgE receptor FcεRIα and cytokines (tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-13, and COX-2) that are known to induce inflammation and allergic responses in RBL-2H3 cells. Further, apigenin (20 μM) significantly induced the expression of filaggrin, loricrin, aquaporin-3, hyaluronic acid, hyaluronic acid synthase (HAS)-1, HAS-2, and HAS-3 in HaCaT cells that are the main components of the physical barrier of the skin. Moreover, it promoted the expression of human β-defensin (HBD)-1, HBD-2, HBD-3, and cathelicidin (LL-37) in HaCaT cells. These antimicrobial peptides are known to play an important role in the skin as chemical barriers. Apigenin significantly suppressed the inflammatory and allergic responses of RAW264.7 and RBL cells, respectively, and would, therefore, serve as a potential prophylactic and therapeutic agent for immune-related diseases. Apigenin could also be used to improve the functions of the physical and chemical skin barriers and to alleviate psoriasis, acne, and atopic dermatitis.

1998 ◽  
Vol 274 (4) ◽  
pp. F673-F679 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhonghong Guan ◽  
Shaavhree Y. Buckman ◽  
Lisa D. Baier ◽  
Aubrey R. Morrison

The inflammatory cytokine interleukin-1β (IL-1β) induces both cyclooxygenase-2 (Cox-2) and the inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) with concomitant release of PGs and nitric oxide (NO) by glomerular mesangial cells. In our current studies, we determine whether insulin and IGF-I are involved in the signal transduction mechanisms resulting in IL-1β-induced NO and PGE2biosynthesis in renal mesangial cells. We demonstrate that both insulin and IGF-I increase IL-1β-induced Cox-2 and iNOS protein expression, which in turn enhance PGE2 and NO production. Our data also indicate that both insulin and IGF-I enhance IL-1β-induced p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) phosphorylation and SAPK activation. These findings implicate the possible role of the MAPK pathway in mediating the effects of insulin and IGF-I on the upregulation of cytokine-stimulated NO and PG biosynthesis. Together, our results indicate that IGF-I and insulin may function to modulate the renal inflammatory process.


2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (10) ◽  
pp. 2490 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wen-Chung Huang ◽  
Chun-Hsun Huang ◽  
Sindy Hu ◽  
Hui-Ling Peng ◽  
Shu-Ju Wu

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a recurrent allergic skin disease caused by genetic and environmental factors. Patients with AD may experience immune imbalance, increased levels of mast cells, immunoglobulin (Ig) E and pro-inflammatory factors (Cyclooxygenase, COX-2 and inducible NO synthase, iNOS). While spilanthol (SP) has anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities, its effect on AD remains to be explored. To develop a new means of SP, inflammation-related symptoms of AD were alleviated, and 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) was used to induce AD-like skin lesions in BALB/c mice. Histopathological analysis was used to examine mast cells and eosinophils infiltration in AD-like skin lesions. The levels of IgE, IgG1 and IgG2a were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits. Western blot was used for analysis of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways and COX-2 and iNOS protein expression. Topical SP treatment reduced serum IgE and IgG2a levels and suppressed COX-2 and iNOS expression via blocked mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways in DNCB-induced AD-like lesions. Histopathological examination revealed that SP reduced epidermal thickness and collagen accumulation and inhibited mast cells and eosinophils infiltration into the AD-like lesions skin. These results indicate that SP may protect against AD skin lesions through inhibited MAPK signaling pathways and may diminish the infiltration of inflammatory cells to block allergic inflammation.


2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (12) ◽  
pp. 3746 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ye Jeong ◽  
Mi-Young Lee

Populus deltoides, known as eastern cottonwood, has been commonly used as a medicinal plant. The aim of the present study was to investigate the mechanism underlying the anti-inflammatory activity of P. deltoides leaf extract (PLE). PLE effectively inhibited the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and nitric oxide (NO) production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells, but not that of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and prostaglandin E2. Proinflammatory tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) levels were also reduced by the extract. PLE inhibited the phosphorylation of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) and inhibitor of Kappa Bα (IκBα), and blunted LPS-triggered enhanced nuclear translocation of NF-κB p65. In mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling, PLE effectively decreased the phosphorylation of p38 and c-Jun N-terminal protein kinase (JNK), but not of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2). Taken together, these results suggest that anti-inflammatory activity of P. deltoides leaf extract might be driven by iNOS and NO inhibition mediated by modulation of the NF-κB and p38/JNK signaling pathways.


2000 ◽  
Vol 20 (12) ◽  
pp. 4265-4274 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marina Lasa ◽  
Kamal R. Mahtani ◽  
Andrew Finch ◽  
Gary Brewer ◽  
Jeremy Saklatvala ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT A tetracycline-regulated reporter system was used to investigate the regulation of cyclooxygenase 2 (Cox-2) mRNA stability by the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) p38 signaling cascade. The stable β-globin mRNA was rendered unstable by insertion of the 2,500-nucleotide Cox-2 3′ untranslated region (3′ UTR). The chimeric transcript was stabilized by a constitutively active form of MAPK kinase 6, an activator of p38. This stabilization was blocked by SB203580, an inhibitor of p38, and by two different dominant negative forms of MAPK-activated protein kinase 2 (MAPKAPK-2), a kinase lying downstream of p38. Constitutively active MAPKAPK-2 was also able to stabilize chimeric β-globin–Cox-2 transcripts. The MAPKAPK-2 substrate hsp27 may be involved in stabilization, as β-globin–Cox-2 transcripts were partially stabilized by phosphomimetic mutant forms of hsp27. A short (123-nucleotide) fragment of the Cox-2 3′ UTR was necessary and sufficient for the regulation of mRNA stability by the p38 cascade and interacted with a HeLa protein immunologically related to AU-rich element/poly(U) binding factor 1.


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