An aqueous extract of Platycodi radix inhibits LPS-induced NF-kappaB nuclear translocation in human cultured airway epithelial cells

Int J Mol Med. 2004 Jun;13(6):843-7.

Abstract

We investigated the effects of aqueous extract from Platycodi radix (AEPR), a traditional drug used to treat acute lung inflammatory disease, on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation in A549 human cultured airway epithelial cells. Nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) and its inhibitory regulator, inhibitory kappaB (I-kappaB), play crucial roles in LPS-induced inflammatory response. We show that LPS-induced nuclear translocation of NF-kappaBp65 is inhibited by AEPR. LPS-induced expression of I-kappaBalpha, which is expressed by LPS-induced activation of NF-kappaB, is inhibited by AEPR as well. Besides LPS-induced expression of a group of genes, such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), are repressed by AEPR. We also found that expression of heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70), which has an anti-inflammatory activity, is increased by AEPR plus LPS. These results suggest that AEPR may act as a therapeutic agent for inflammatory disease through regulating the activity of NF-kappaB and expression of inflammatory genes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Active Transport, Cell Nucleus
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / pharmacology*
  • Cell Nucleus / metabolism
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Cyclooxygenase 2
  • Epithelial Cells / metabolism*
  • HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins / metabolism
  • Humans
  • I-kappa B Proteins / metabolism
  • Isoenzymes / immunology
  • Isoenzymes / metabolism
  • Lipopolysaccharides / pharmacology*
  • Membrane Proteins
  • NF-kappa B / metabolism
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase / metabolism
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology
  • Platycodon / chemistry*
  • Pneumonia / drug therapy*
  • Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / immunology
  • Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / metabolism
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / immunology
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / metabolism

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins
  • I-kappa B Proteins
  • Isoenzymes
  • Lipopolysaccharides
  • Membrane Proteins
  • NF-kappa B
  • Plant Extracts
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • NOS2 protein, human
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II
  • Cyclooxygenase 2
  • PTGS2 protein, human
  • Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases