Inhibitory effects of paeoniflorin on lysophosphatidylcholine-induced inflammatory factor production in human umbilical vein endothelial cells

Int J Mol Med. 2013 Feb;31(2):493-7. doi: 10.3892/ijmm.2012.1211. Epub 2012 Dec 13.

Abstract

Lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) plays an important role in atherosclerosis through initiation of endothelial inflammation response. Paeoniflorin (PEF), isolated from the dry root of Paeonia, has been reported to exert an anti-inflammatory effect, but the exact mechanism is not fully understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the inhibitory effects of PEF on LPC-induced inflammatory factor production and the underlying mechanisms. In human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), different concentrations (1, 10 or 100 µmol/l) of PEF were added 2 h prior to exposure to LPC (10 mg/l) for 24 h. The results showed that PEF significantly inhibited LPC-induced inflammatory factor production. In addition, PEF was also able to suppress the enhanced high mobility group box-1 (HMGB1) expression and release, upregulated expression of receptor for advanced glycation end product (RAGE), Toll-like receptor (TLR)-2 and TLR-4, and increased nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) activity induced by LPC. Our results suggest that PEF suppresses LPC-induced inflammatory factor production through inhibition of the HMGB1-RAGE/TLR-2/TLR-4-NF-κB pathway.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / isolation & purification
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / pharmacology*
  • Benzoates / isolation & purification
  • Benzoates / pharmacology*
  • Bridged-Ring Compounds / isolation & purification
  • Bridged-Ring Compounds / pharmacology*
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Gene Expression Regulation / drug effects
  • Glucosides / isolation & purification
  • Glucosides / pharmacology*
  • HMGB1 Protein / genetics
  • HMGB1 Protein / immunology
  • Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells / drug effects*
  • Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells / immunology
  • Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Lysophosphatidylcholines / immunology*
  • Monoterpenes
  • NF-kappa B / immunology
  • Paeonia / chemistry
  • Toll-Like Receptor 2 / genetics
  • Toll-Like Receptor 4 / genetics

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • Benzoates
  • Bridged-Ring Compounds
  • Glucosides
  • HMGB1 Protein
  • Lysophosphatidylcholines
  • Monoterpenes
  • NF-kappa B
  • TLR4 protein, human
  • Toll-Like Receptor 2
  • Toll-Like Receptor 4
  • peoniflorin