Egg yolk oils exert anti-inflammatory effect via regulating Nrf2/NF-κB pathway

J Ethnopharmacol. 2021 Jun 28:274:114070. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2021.114070. Epub 2021 Mar 27.

Abstract

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Egg yolk oils (EYO) is a traditional Chinese medicine obtained from Gallus gallus domesticus Brisson, which has been used to treat inflammatory related diseases such as cheilitis, ulceration and acute anal fissure. However, the detailed anti-inflammatory mechanism of EYO is still unknown.

Aim of the study: The anti-inflammatory activity and mechanism of EYO were investigated in tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α induced Caco-2 cells.

Materials and methods: EYO was obtained by direct-heat extraction (HE), ethanol extraction (EE) and petroleum ether extraction (PE), respectively. Fatty acid compositions of three EYO were measured by gas chromatography (GC). Cell viability, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), transcriptome, RT-PCR and Western blotting were also performed.

Results: Fatty acid compositions of three EYO were different with varied extraction methods. EYO significantly reduced interleukin (IL)-8 secretion. EYO exerted anti-inflammatory effect via coordinating regulation of Nrf2/NF-κB pathways based on the results of transcriptome, Q-PCR and Western blotting. In detail, PE and HE inhibited the NF-κB pathway, whereas EE exerted anti-inflammatory activity via the Nrf2/NF-κB pathways.

Conclusions: The aforementioned results showed the anti-inflammatory mechanism of EYO. These findings might be beneficial to clinical applications of EYO.

Keywords: Anti-inflammatory activity; Egg yolk oils; Fatty acids; Signaling pathway; Transcriptome.

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / pharmacology*
  • Caco-2 Cells
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Cytokines / genetics
  • Cytokines / metabolism
  • Egg Yolk*
  • Fatty Acids / analysis
  • Fatty Acids / pharmacology*
  • Glutamate-Cysteine Ligase / genetics
  • Heme Oxygenase-1 / genetics
  • Humans
  • NAD(P)H Dehydrogenase (Quinone) / genetics
  • NF-E2-Related Factor 2 / metabolism
  • NF-KappaB Inhibitor alpha / metabolism
  • NF-kappa B / metabolism
  • Oils / chemistry
  • Oils / pharmacology*
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Thioredoxin Reductase 1 / genetics
  • Transcriptome / drug effects

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • Cytokines
  • Fatty Acids
  • NF-E2-Related Factor 2
  • NF-kappa B
  • NFE2L2 protein, human
  • Oils
  • NF-KappaB Inhibitor alpha
  • HMOX1 protein, human
  • Heme Oxygenase-1
  • NAD(P)H Dehydrogenase (Quinone)
  • NQO1 protein, human
  • TXNRD1 protein, human
  • Thioredoxin Reductase 1
  • GCLM protein, human
  • Glutamate-Cysteine Ligase