Multiple mechanisms involved in the inhibition of proinflammatory cytokine production from human monocytes by N-(p-coumaroyl)serotonin and its derivatives

p-Coumaroyl Amides from the Plant Kingdom: A Comprehensive Review of Natural Sources, Biosynthesis, and Biological Activities

Hydroxycinnamic acids are widely distributed in the plant kingdom, both as free compounds and as conjugates with other molecules, such as amino acids, carbohydrates, alcohols or amines, and polyamines, forming different derivatives, such as amides, esters, thioesters, or ethers. Among the different hydroxycinnamic acids, p-coumaric acid has a high bioavailability and its amide derivatives, also known as phenolamides (PAs) and hydroxycinnamic acid amides (HCAAs), play specific roles in plant development and defense. They are also involved in several biological activities that affect human health. The present review collected data and described secondary and tertiary amides of p-coumaric acids found in plants, from their natural sources to their biosynthesis. The review also described the acyl-transferase mechanisms involved in their formation, their roles in plants, as well as studies of their biological activities in humans.

Multitrait engineering of Hassawi red rice for sustainable cultivation

Sustainable agriculture requires locally adapted varieties that produce nutritious food with limited agricultural inputs. Genome engineering represents a viable approach to develop cultivars that fulfill these criteria. For example, the red Hassawi rice, a native landrace of Saudi Arabia, tolerates local drought and high-salinity conditions and produces grain with diverse health-promoting phytochemicals. However, Hassawi has a long growth cycle, high cultivation costs, low productivity, and susceptibility to lodging. Here, to improve these undesirable traits via genome editing, we established efficient regeneration and Agrobacterium-mediated transformation protocols for Hassawi. In addition, we generated the first high-quality reference genome and targeted the key flowering repressor gene, Hd4, thus shortening the plant's lifecycle and height. Using CRISPR/Cas9 multiplexing, we simultaneously disrupted negative regulators of flowering time (Hd2, Hd4, and Hd5), grain size (GS3), grain number (GN1a), and plant height (Sd1). The resulting homozygous mutant lines flowered extremely early (∼56 days) and had shorter stems (approximately 107 cm), longer grains (by 5.1%), and more grains per plant (by 50.2%), thereby enhancing overall productivity. Furthermore, the awns of grains were 86.4% shorter compared to unedited plants. Moreover, the modified rice grain displayed improved nutritional attributes. As a result, the modified Hassawi rice combines several desirable traits that can incentivize large-scale cultivation and reduce malnutrition.

Comparison of the Microbiome-Metabolome Response to Copper Sulfate and Copper Glycinate in Growing Pigs

This study aims to compare the fecal microbiome-metabolome response to copper sulfate (CuSO₄) and copper glycinate (Cu-Gly) in pigs. Twelve Meishan gilts were allocated into the CuSO₄ group and the Cu-Gly group (fed on a basal diet supplemented with 60 mg/kg copper from CuSO₄ or Cu-Gly) paired in litter and body weight. After a two-week feeding trial, the Cu-Gly group had a higher copper digestibility, blood hemoglobin, and platelet volume and higher levels of plasma iron and insulin-like growth factor-1 than the CuSO₄ group. The Cu-Gly treatment increased the abundance of the Lachnospiraceae family and the genera Lachnospiraceae XPB1014, Corprococcus_3, Anaerorhabdus_furcosa_group, Lachnospiraceae_FCS020_group, and Lachnospiraceae_NK4B4_group and decreased the abundance of the Synergistetes phylum and Peptostreptococcaceae family compared to the CuSO₄ treatment. Moreover, the Cu-Gly group had a lower concentration of 20-Oxo-leukotriene E4 and higher concentrations of butyric acid, pentanoic acid, isopentanoic acid, coumarin, and Nb-p-Coumaroyl-tryptamine than the CuSO₄ group. The abundance of Synergistetes was positively correlated with the fecal copper content and negatively correlated with the fecal butyric acid content. The abundance of the Lachnospiraceae_XPB1014_group genus was positively correlated with the plasma iron level and fecal contents of coumarin and butyric acid. In conclusion, Cu-Gly and CuSO₄ could differentially affect fecal microbiota and metabolites, which partially contributes to the intestinal health of pigs in different manners.

A Cornflower Extract Containing N-Feruloylserotonin Reduces Inflammation in Human Skin by Neutralizing CCL17 and CCL22 and Inhibiting COX-2 and 5-LOX

Thymus and Activation-Regulated Chemokine (TARC/CCL17) and Macrophage-Derived Chemokine (MDC/CCL22) are two key chemokines exerting their biological effect via binding and activating a common receptor CCR4, expressed at the surface of type 2 helper T (Th2) cells. By recruiting Th2 cells in the dermis, CCL17 and CCL22 promote the development of inflammation in atopic skin. The aim of this research was to develop a plant extract whose biological properties, when applied topically, could be beneficial for people with atopic-prone skin. The strategy which was followed consisted in identifying ligands able to neutralize the biological activity of CCL17 and CCL22. Thus, an in silico molecular modeling and a generic screening assay were developed to screen natural molecules binding and blocking these two chemokines. N-Feruloylserotonin was identified as a neutraligand of CCL22 in these experiments. A cornflower extract containing N-feruloylserotonin was selected for further in vitro tests: the gene expression modulation of inflammation biomarkers induced by CCL17 or CCL22 in the presence or absence of this extract was assessed in the HaCaT keratinocyte cell line. Additionally, the same cornflower extract in another vehicle was evaluated in parallel with N-feruloylserotonin for cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX) enzymatic cellular inhibition. The cornflower extract was shown to neutralize the two chemokines in vitro, inhibited COX-2 and 5-LOX, and demonstrated anti-inflammatory activities due mainly to the presence of N-feruloylserotonin. Although these findings would need to be confirmed in an in vivo study, the in vitro studies lay the foundation to explain the benefits of the cornflower extract when applied topically to individuals with atopic-prone skin.

The Chemistry and Health Benefits of Dietary Phenolamides

Phenolamides, also known as hydroxycinnamic acid amides or phenylamides, have been reported throughout the plant kingdom, while a few of these amine-conjugated hydroxycinnamic acids are unique in foods. The current knowledge of their specific functions in plant development and defense is readily available as is their biosynthesis; however, their functionality in humans is still largely unknown. Of the currently known phenolamides, the most common are avenanthramides, which are unique in oats and similar to the well-known drug Tranilast, which possess anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-itch, and antiatherogenic activities. While recent data have brought to light more information regarding the other known phenolamides, such as hordatines, dimers of agmatine conjugated to hydroxycinnamic acid, and kukoamines, spermine-derived phenolamides, the information is still severely limited, leaving their potential health benefits to speculation. Herein, to highlight the importance of dietary phenolamides to human health, we review and summarize the four major subgroups of phenolamides, including their chemical structures, dietary sources, and reported health benefits. We believe that the studies on phenolamides are still in the infancy stage and additional health benefits of these phenolamides may yet be identified.

Fate of antibiotic resistance genes and mobile genetic elements during anaerobic co-digestion of Chinese medicinal herbal residues and swine manure

Swine manure is an important reservoir for antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) but anaerobic co-digestion (AcoD) can potentially reduce the abundance of these ARGs. However, few studies have considered the effects of Chinese medicinal herbal residues (CMHRs) on the variations in ARGs and mobile genetic elements (MGEs) during AcoD. Thus, this study explored the fate of ARGs and MGEs during the AcoD of CMHRs and swine manure. The results showed that CMHRs effectively reduced the abundances of the main ARGs (excluding ermF, qnrA, and tetW) and four MGEs (by 36.7-96.5%) after AcoD. Redundancy analysis showed that changes in the bacterial community mainly affected the fate of ARGs rather than horizontal gene transfer by MGEs. Network analysis indicated that 17 bacterial genera were possible hosts of ARGs. The results of this study suggest that AcoD with CMHRs could be employed to remove some ARGs and MGEs from swine manure.

Engineering of Escherichia coli for the synthesis of N-hydroxycinnamoyl tryptamine and serotonin

Plants synthesize various phenol amides. Among them, hydroxycinnamoyl (HC) tryptamines and serotonins exhibit antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-atherogenic activities. We synthesized HC-tryptamines and HC-serotonin from several HCs and either tryptamine or serotonin using Escherichia coli harboring the 4CL (4-coumaroyl CoA ligase) and CaHCTT [hydroxycinnamoyl-coenzyme A:serotonin N-(hydroxycinnamoyl)transferase] genes. E. coli was engineered to synthesize N-cinnamoyl tryptamine from glucose. TDC (tryptophan decarboxylase) and PAL (phenylalanine ammonia lyase) along with 4CL and CaHCTT were introduced into E. coli and the phenylalanine biosynthetic pathway of E. coli was engineered. Using this strategy, approximately 110.6 mg/L of N-cinnamoyl tryptamine was synthesized. By feeding 100 μM serotonin into the E. coli culture, which could induce the synthesis of cinnamic acid or p-coumaric acid, more than 99 μM of N-cinnamoyl serotonin and N-(p-coumaroyl) serotonin were synthesized.

Phenolic Phytoalexins in Rice: Biological Functions and Biosynthesis

Phytoalexins are inducible secondary metabolites possessing antimicrobial activity against phytopathogens. Rice produces a wide array of phytoalexins in response to pathogen attacks and environmental stresses. With few exceptions, most phytoalexins identified in rice are diterpenoid compounds. Until very recently, flavonoid sakuranetin was the only known phenolic phytoalexin in rice. However, recent studies have shown that phenylamides are involved in defense against pathogen attacks in rice. Phenylamides are amine-conjugated phenolic acids that are induced by pathogen infections and abiotic stresses including ultra violet (UV) radiation in rice. Stress-induced phenylamides, such as N-trans-cinnamoyltryptamine, N-p-coumaroylserotonin and N-cinnamoyltyramine, have been reported to possess antimicrobial activities against rice bacterial and fungal pathogens, an indication of their direct inhibitory roles against invading pathogens. This finding suggests that phenylamides act as phytoalexins in rice and belong to phenolic phytoalexins along with sakuranetin. Phenylamides also have been implicated in cell wall reinforcement for disease resistance and allelopathy of rice. Synthesis of phenolic phytoalexins is stimulated by phytopathogen attacks and abiotic challenges including UV radiation. Accumulating evidence has demonstrated that biosynthetic pathways including the shikimate, phenylpropanoid and arylmonoamine pathways are coordinately activated for phenolic phytoalexin synthesis, and related genes are induced by biotic and abiotic stresses in rice.

N-(p-Coumaryol)-Tryptamine Suppresses the Activation of JNK/c-Jun Signaling Pathway in LPS-Challenged RAW264.7 Cells

N-(p-Coumaryol) tryptamine (CT), a phenolic amide, has been reported to exhibit anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. However, the underlying mechanism by which CT exerts its pharmacological properties has not been clearly demonstrated. The objective of this study is to elucidate the anti-inflammatory mechanism of CT in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-challenged RAW264.7 macrophage cells. CT significantly inhibited LPS-induced extracellular secretion of pro-inflammatory mediators such as nitric oxide (NO) and PGE2, and protein expressions of iNOS and COX-2. In addition, CT significantly suppressed LPS-induced secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α and IL-1β. To elucidate the underlying anti-inflammatory mechanism of CT, involvement of MAPK and Akt signaling pathways was examined. CT significantly attenuated LPS-induced activation of JNK/c-Jun, but not ERK and p38, in a concentration-dependent manner. Interestingly, CT appeared to suppress LPS-induced Akt phosphorylation. However, JNK inhibition, but not Akt inhibition, resulted in the suppression of LPS-induced responses, suggesting that JNK/c-Jun signaling pathway significantly contributes to LPS-induced inflammatory responses and that LPS-induced Akt phosphorylation might be a compensatory response to a stress condition. Taken together, the present study clearly demonstrates CT exerts anti-inflammatory activity through the suppression of JNK/c-Jun signaling pathway in LPS-challenged RAW264.7 macrophage cells.

Carthamus tinctorius Enhances the Antitumor Activity of Dendritic Cell Vaccines via Polarization toward Th1 Cytokines and Increase of Cytotoxic T Lymphocytes

Carthamus tinctorius (CT), also named safflower, is a traditional Chinese medicine widely used to improve blood circulation. CT also has been studied for its antitumor activity in certain cancers. To investigate the effects of CT on the dendritic cell (DC)-based vaccine in cancer treatment, cytokine secretion of mouse splenic T lymphocytes and the maturation of DCs in response to CT were analyzed. To assess the antitumor activity of CT extract on mouse CD117⁺ (c-kit)-derived DCs pulsed with JC mammal tumor antigens, the JC tumor was challenged by the CT-treated DC vaccine in vivo. CT stimulated IFN-γ and IL-10 secretion of splenic T lymphocytes and enhanced the maturation of DCs by enhancing immunological molecule expression. When DC vaccine was pulsed with tumor antigens along with CT extract, the levels of TNF-α and IL-1β were dramatically increased with a dose-dependent response and more immunologic and co-stimulatory molecules were expressed on the DC surface. In addition, CT-treated tumor lysate-pulsed DC vaccine reduced the tumor weight in tumor-bearing mice by 15.3% more than tumor lysate-pulsed DC vaccine without CT treatment. CT polarized cytokine secretion toward the Th1 pathway and also increased the population of cytotoxic T lymphocytes ex vivo. In conclusion, CT activates DCs might promote the recognition of antigens and facilitate antigen presentation to Th1 immune responses.

Anti-angiogenic activity of Ipomoea obscura extract and Ipobscurine-A

OBJECTIVE

Ipomoea obscura (L.) Ker-Gawl, is a medicinal herb with indole alkaloids as an active constituent. In this study, we investigated the anti-angiogenic activity of I. obscura extract and one of its major compounds Ipobscurine-A (IPO-A).

METHODS

In vivo angiogenesis was induced by injecting B16F10 melanoma cells intradermally on the shaven ventral skin of C57BL/6 mice. In vitro experiments were conducted using human umbilical vein endothelial cells.

RESULTS

I. obscura and IPO-A significantly inhibited endothelial cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and tube formation in vitro. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-induced sprouting of endothelial cells from rat aorta ex vivo was also inhibited. A marked decrease in the production of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and the expressions of VEGF, cyclooxygenase-2, and nitric oxide synthase by B16F10 cells were observed after the treatment with the extract or IPO-A. Intraperitoneal administration of the extract significantly inhibited B16F10 melanoma cell line-induced neo-vessel formation in C57BL/6 mice in vivo. Analysis of serum cytokine profile clearly showed that extract significantly reduced the elevated levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukins (IL)-1β, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, and granulocyte-monocyte colony stimulating factor and the most potent angiogenic factor VEGF in animals. Serum NO level was also found to be significantly lowered by the administration of the extract. Anti-angiogenic factors such as TIMP-1 and IL-2 level were elevated in the extract-treated animals.

CONCLUSION

These data clearly demonstrate that I. obscura extract and IPO-A inhibit the tumor-specific angiogenesis by downregulating pro-angiogenic factors such as MMP, VEGF, and pro-inflammatory mediators and upregulating anti-angiogenic factors such as IL-2 and TIMP-1.

Beta-D-glucosidase-catalyzed deglucosidation of phenylpropanoid amides of 5-hydroxytryptamine glucoside in safflower seed extracts optimized by response surface methodology

Beta-D-glucosidase-catalyzed deglucosidation of phenylpropanoid amides of 5-hydroxytryptamine (PAHAs) glucoside in safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) seed extracts, including N-(p-coumaroyl)serotonin glucoside (CSG) and N-feruloylserotonin glucoside (FSG), was optimized by response surface methodology (RSM). The Box-Behken design (BBD) was employed to evaluate the interactive effects of independent variables on the deglucosidation rates of CSG and FSG. The variables involved were pH (5.6-6.2), temperature (45-55 degrees C), and enzyme load (2.0-3.0%, relative to the weight of the total substrate). The substrate concentration was fixed at 3.3 g/L on the basis of factorial experiments. The optimum conditions obtained via RSM at a fixed time of 2 h were as follows: pH, 5.9; temperature, 48 degrees C; and enzyme load, 3.0%. Under these conditions, the actual deglucosidation rates of CSG and FSG were 75.5 and 42.2%, respectively, which agree well with the predicted values (75.3 and 41.9%) by RSM. The final incubation time (10 h) was determined by the time course of the deglucosidation under the above-mentioned optimum conditions, which gave the deglucosidation rates of both CSG and FSG above 90%. Simultaneously, 2-hydroxyarctiin, a typical cathartic beta-glucoside, was also removed by 80.3%.

Safflower extracts functionally regulate monoamine transporters

Safflower (HH), the dry flower of Carthamus tinctorius L., has long been used to empirically treat neuropsychological disorders such as stroke and major depression in traditional Chinese medicine, and recently been proven effective for regulating levels of dopamine and serotonin in new-born rat brain. The present study assessed whether HH would be bioactive for functionally regulating monoamine transporters using in vitro drug-screening cell lines. Our current results showed that all solvent-extracted HH fractions, in different degrees, markedly increased both dopamine uptake by Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells stably expressing dopamine transporter (DAT) and norepinephrine uptake by CHO cells expressing norepinephrine transporter (NET), and also showed that chloroform (HC), ethyl acetate (HE), and n-butyl alcohol extract strikingly depressed serotonin uptake by CHO cells expressing serotonin transporter (SERT); wherein, the potencies of ethanol extract, HC, HE, and aqueous extract to up-regulate dopamine/norepinephrine uptake and potency of HE to inhibit serotonin uptake were relatively stronger. Further investigation revealed that the enhancement of dopamine/norepinephrine uptake by HC and HE was dependent of DAT/NET activity, and the HE-induced inhibition of serotonin uptake was typical of competition. Thus, HH extracts are novel monoamine transporter modulators functioning as DAT/NET activators and/or SERT inhibitors, and would likely improve neuropsychological disorders through regulating monoamine-transporter activity.

Serotomide and safflomide modulate forskolin-stimulated cAMP formation via 5-HT1 receptor

Serotomide (trans-N-caffeoylserotonin) and safflomide (trans-N-caffeoyltryptamine) belong to serotonin-derived phenylpropenoid amides found in plants. In this paper, serotomide and safflomide were investigated to determine their effects on serotonin receptor 5-HT1 in the renal epithelial (OK) cells, due to their structural similarity to 5-HT1 receptor ligands. At the concentration of 10 microM, serotomide was able to inhibit forskolin-stimulated cAMP formation in the OK cells by 31% (p<0.019). The inhibition was repressed by Nan-190 and spiperone (5-HT1 antagonists), suggesting that serotomide suppresses cAMP formation via binding to 5-HT1 receptors in the OK cells. Meanwhile, safflomide could not inhibit forskolin-stimulated cAMP formation at the same concentration (10 microM), but repress the inhibition of forskolin-stimulated cAMP by serotonin agonists (e.g., serotonin and 8-OH-DPAT) by 31% (p<0.018), suggesting that safflomide may block 5-HT1 receptors in a similar way to Nan-190 and spiperone. All together the data indicate that serotomide and safflomide may be potent compounds that respectively act to activate and to block 5-HT1 receptors on OK cells.

Acute immunomodulatory effects of iron polyisomaltosate in rats

Anti-anaemic drug ferric-sorbitol citrate showed immunomodulatory effects, activating NF-kappaB in peritoneal macrophages, which consequently secrete tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha). TNF-alpha activates NF-kappaB in spleen cells. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of iron polyisomaltosate, an iron (Fe(3+)) compound, on serum iron, interleukin-6 (IL-6) and serotonin (5-HT) concentration, neutrophil activity, and NF-kappaB activation in peritoneal macrophages and spleen cells in rats. Female Wistar rats were injected i.p. with 7.5mg iron/kg of iron polyisomaltosate 1.5, 3, 6, 24 and 48h before sacrifice. Serum iron, 5-HT and IL-6 concentration was determined by colorimetric, spectrofluorimetric and ELISA methods, neutrophil activity by a chemiluminescence assay, and NF-kappaB expression/activation by a Dot-Blot method. Iron polyisomaltosate significantly increased serum iron and 5-HT concentrations during the first 6h, IL-6 levels 3 and 6h, and diminished respiratory burst of granulocytes 1.5h after the injection. Iron polyisomaltosate stimulated activation of p65, p50 and RelB subunits of NF-kappaB in the peritoneal macrophages after 6h, and RelB subunit was additionally increased after 24 and 48h. In the spleen cells iron polyisomaltosate stimulated p65 subunit after 48h and RelB subunit after 24h. The results showed time-dependent immunomodulatory effects of iron polyisomaltosate. These effects might be achieved via induction of the intracellular signalling for NF-kappaB activation in peritoneal macrophages and later in spleen cells, together with increase of serum 5-HT, and IL-6 but with diminished respiratory burst of granulocytes. Iron polyisomaltosate presumably activated reactive oxygen species resulting in the stimulation of the acute phase reactants in the liver.

Characterization of the binding properties of SIRT2 inhibitors with a N-(3-phenylpropenoyl)-glycine tryptamide backbone

SIRT2 inhibitors with a N-(3-phenylpropenoyl)-glycine tryptamide backbone were studied. This backbone has been developed in our group, and it is derived from a compound originally found by virtual screening. In addition, compounds with a smaller 3-phenylpropenoic acid tryptamide backbone were also included in the study. Binding modes for the new compounds and the previously reported compounds were analyzed with molecular modelling methods. The approach, which included a combination of molecular dynamics, molecular docking and cluster analysis, showed that certain docking poses were favourable despite the conformational variation in the target protein. The N-(3-phenylpropenoyl)-glycine tryptamide backbone is also a good backbone for SIRT2 inhibitors, and the series of compounds includes several potent SIRT2 inhibitors.

The effects of SOCS-1 on liver endotoxin tolerance development induced by a low dose of lipopolysaccharide are related to dampen NF-kappaB-mediated pathway

BACKGROUND

Endotoxin tolerance is an important mechanism to maintain the homeostasis of liver. It was reported that suppressors of cytokine signalling-1 was a negative regulator of lipopolysaccharide-induced macrophages activation, however, the mechanism underlying endotoxin tolerance and suppressors of cytokine signalling-1 has not been fully elucidated.

AIM

Our aim here is to clarify whether suppressors of cytokine signalling-1 was involved in the mechanisms of endotoxin tolerance in liver through dampening nuclear factor-kappaB-mediated pathway.

METHODS

Endotoxin tolerance models of C57BL/6J mice and isolated Kupffer cells were established by pretreating them with a low dose of lipopolysaccharide to observe the changes of suppressors of cytokine signalling-1 expression during endotoxin tolerance inducement. Moreover, a vector-based short hairpin RNA expression system was used to specifically inhibit suppressors of cytokine signalling-1 expression in RAW264.7 macrophage cells to further explore the role of suppressors of cytokine signalling-1 in endotoxin tolerance inducement. The expression of suppressors of cytokine signalling-1 was analysed by immunohistochemistry, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting, respectively. The responses to lipopolysaccharide were assessed by the activation of nuclear factor-kappaB and the production of tumour necrosis factor-alpha, which were analysed by ELISA.

RESULTS

The histopathologic changes in the liver of the non-endotoxin tolerance group were more serious than those of the endotoxin tolerance group. The phagocytic activity of Kupffer cells were depressed and suppressors of cytokine signalling-1 expression in the endotoxin tolerance group obviously increased. Endotoxin tolerance also led to a hyporesponse of Kupffer cells to lipopolysaccharide with less activation of nuclear factor-kappaB, less production of tumour necrosis factor-alpha and more expression of suppressors of cytokine signalling-1 than those of non-endotoxin tolerance group. Moreover, the inhibitive effect was partly refracted in pSOCS-1-short hairpin RNA transfected RAW264.7 cells.

CONCLUSIONS

Endotoxin tolerance induced by lipopolysaccharide pretreatment was accompanied with upregulation of suppressors of cytokine signalling-1 and the silence of suppressors of cytokine signalling-1 by RNA interference obviously attenuated this inhibitive effect, indicating that the absence of suppressors of cytokine signalling-1 caused abnormal enhancement of inflammatory cytokine production and suppressors of cytokine signalling-1 was involved in endotoxin tolerance inducement through dampening nuclear factor-kappaB-mediated pathway. Therefore, suppressors of cytokine signalling-1 may be a new target for the clinical treatment of sepsis.

Safflower extract: a novel renal fibrosis antagonist that functions by suppressing autocrine TGF-beta

Progressive renal disease is characterized by the accumulation of extracellular matrix proteins in the renal interstitium. Hence, developing agents that antagonize fibrogenic signals is a critical issue facing researchers. The present study investigated the blood-circulation-promoting Chinese herb, safflower, on fibrosis status in NRK-49F cells, a normal rat kidney interstitial fibroblast, to evaluate the underlying signal transduction mechanism of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta), a potent fibrogenic growth factor. Safflower was characterized and extracted using water. Renal fibrosis model was established both in vitro with fibroblast cells treated with beta-hydroxybutyrate and in vivo using rats undergone unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO). Western blotting was used to examine protein expression in TGF-beta-related signal proteins such as type I and type II TGF-beta receptor, Smads2/3, pSmad2/3, Smads4, and Smads7. ELISA was used to analyze bioactive TGF-beta1 and fibronectin levels in the culture media. Safflower extract (SE) significantly inhibited beta-HB-induced fibrosis in NRK cells concomitantly with dose-dependent inhibition of the type I TGF-beta1 receptor and its down-stream signals (i.e., Smad). Moreover, SE dose-dependently enhanced inhibitory Smad7. Thus, SE can suppress renal cellular fibrosis by inhibiting the TGF-beta autocrine loop. Moreover, remarkably lower levels of tissue collagen were noted in the nephron and serum TGF-beta1 of UUO rats receiving oral SE (0.15 g/3 ml/0.25 kg/day) compared with the untreated controls. Hence, SE is a potential inhibitor of renal fibrosis. We suggest that safflower is a novel renal fibrosis antagonist that functions by down-regulating TGF-beta signals.

New spermidines from the florets of Carthamus tinctorius

Two new spermidine compounds, namely safflospermidine A (1) and safflospermidine B (2), together with two known compounds, N(1),N(5),N(10)-(Z)-tri-p-coumaroylspermidine (3) and N(1),N(5),N(10)-(E)-tri-p-coumaroylspermidine (4), were isolated from the florets of Carthamus tinctorius L. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic means.

Synthesis of safflomide and its HPLC measurement in mouse plasma after oral administration

Safflomide (N-caffeoyltryptamine) is a compound belonging to a group of phenylpropanoid amides found in plants. In this study, safflomide was chemically synthesized and confirmed by LC-MS, LC-MS/MS and NMR spectroscopic methods, and a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method was developed for quantifying safflomide in biological samples. The synthesis was simple, and the yield of safflomide was greater than 50%. Using the synthesized safflomide as a standard, HPLC separation was performed on a Nova-Pak C18 column using an isocratic buffer, and the separation was detected using a coulometric electrochemical detector. The detection of safflomide yielded an excellent peak resolution at the retention time of 21 min, and the lower limit of the detection was as little as 100 fmol. Using this HPLC method, the plasma concentrations of safflomide were determined in mouse blood, collected at 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, and 35 min following its oral administrations (1 and 3 mg/30 g body weight). This HPLC method standardized with safflomide is the first reported method able to quantify the compound in standard and plasma samples with good detection limit and consistent reproducibility.

Regulatory Effects of Cytokine Production in Atopic Allergic Reaction by Gammi-Danguieumja

Gammi-danguieumja (GD) is clinically used in South Korea for treating atopic dermatitis. However, its effects in experimental models remain unknown. We investigated a possible effect of GD on cytokines production using human T cell line (MOLT-4) or human mast cell line. As a result, GD (0.01 mg/mL)-containing medium in stimulated culture supernatants increased IL-2 and IFN-gamma, and decreased IL-4 secretion in MOLT-4. GD (0.01-1 mg/mL)-containing medium in stimulated culture supernatants dose-dependently and significantly decreased IL-8, IL-13, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha secretion on the phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate and A23187-stimulated HMC-1. In addition, GD inhibited histamine release from activated mast cells. These results suggest that GD contributes to the regulation of atopic allergic reactions.