Inhibitory effect of withaferin A on Helicobacter pylori‑induced IL‑8 production and NF‑κB activation in gastric epithelial cells

Mol Med Rep. 2016 Jan;13(1):967-72. doi: 10.3892/mmr.2015.4602. Epub 2015 Nov 23.

Abstract

Withaferin A (WA), a withanolide purified from Withania somnifera, has been known to exert anti-inflammatory effects. The present study sought to determine the effects of WA on Helicobacter (H.) pylori-mediated inflammation in the AGS gastric epithelial cell line. Cellular production of interleukin (IL)-8 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was measured by ELISA. Western blot analysis was performed to determine the activation of nuclear factor (NF)-κB and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) as well as hypoxia-inducible factor 1α stabilization. Bacterial growth was also examined by measuring the optical density. Pre-treatment or co-treatment with WA efficiently reduced IL-8 production by AGS cells in response to H. pylori infection. H. pylori-induced activation of NF-κB, but not MAPKs, was also inhibited by pre-treatment of WA in the cells. However, WA did not affect VEGF production and HIF-1α stabilization induced by H. pylori in AGS cells. In addition, WA did not influence the growth of H. pylori, suggesting that the anti-inflammatory effect of WA was not due to any bactericidal effect. These findings indicate that WA is a potential preventive or therapeutic agent for H. pylori-mediated gastric inflammation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Epithelial Cells / drug effects
  • Epithelial Cells / metabolism
  • Epithelial Cells / microbiology
  • Gastric Mucosa / drug effects
  • Gastric Mucosa / metabolism
  • Gastric Mucosa / pathology
  • Gene Expression Regulation / drug effects
  • Helicobacter Infections / drug therapy*
  • Helicobacter Infections / microbiology
  • Helicobacter Infections / pathology
  • Helicobacter pylori / drug effects*
  • Helicobacter pylori / pathogenicity
  • Humans
  • Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit / biosynthesis
  • Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit / genetics
  • Inflammation / drug therapy*
  • Inflammation / genetics
  • Inflammation / microbiology
  • Inflammation / pathology
  • Interleukin-8 / biosynthesis*
  • Interleukin-8 / genetics
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
  • NF-kappa B / biosynthesis
  • NF-kappa B / genetics
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / biosynthesis
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / genetics
  • Withanolides / administration & dosage*

Substances

  • CXCL8 protein, human
  • HIF1A protein, human
  • Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit
  • Interleukin-8
  • NF-kappa B
  • VEGFA protein, human
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
  • Withanolides
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
  • withaferin A