Ni YL, Shen HT, Lee MW, Yeh KL, Chiang CY, Kuan YH. Safrole-induced expression of proinflammatory responses is associated with phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinase family and the nuclear factor-κB/inhibitor of κB pathway in macrophages.
Tzu Chi Med J 2020;
32:344-350. [PMID:
33163379 PMCID:
PMC7605287 DOI:
10.4103/tcmj.tcmj_78_20]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2020] [Revised: 05/20/2020] [Accepted: 06/06/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective:
Safrole, also called shikimol and Sassafras, is the carcinogenic and phenylpropanoid compound extracted from Sassafras tree and anise, betel, and camphor. Moreover, a high concentration of safrole can be occur in the saliva because of betel nut or areca quid chewing which a common habit observed in Southern and Southeastern Asia. Notably, macrophages are crucial phagocytic cells of the immune system. Nonetheless, to date, no evidence has been reported regarding safrole-induced proinflammatory response and the corresponding mechanism in macrophages.
Materials and Methods:
In the present study, the cytokines expression, NO generation, protein phosphorylation, and expression were assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, Griess reagent, and Western blot assay, respectively.
Results:
In this study, we determined that safrole induces the generation of nitric oxide and proinflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β, and IL-6 in RAW264.7 macrophages in a concentration-dependent manner. Furthermore, inhibitor of κB (IκB) degradation was caused by safrole in a concentration-dependent manner. In addition, the phosphorylation of nuclear factor (NF)-κB and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) family, including p38 MAPK, extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), and c-Jun N-terminal kinase, was induced by safrole began to increase at 10 μM and attained a plateau at 100 μM.
Conclusion:
These results indicated that safrole induces the expression of proinflammatory responses in macrophages through the NF-κB/IκB pathway and its upstream factor, MAPK family phosphorylation.
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