Establishment of reporter platforms capable of detecting NF-κB mediated immuno-modulatory activity

J Agric Food Chem. 2013 Dec 26;61(51):12582-7. doi: 10.1021/jf404887u. Epub 2013 Dec 17.

Abstract

Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) are transcriptional targets of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) that are involved in inflammatory responses. The aim of this study is to develop a method for efficiently detecting inflammation modulatory activities. Here we established RAW264.7 macrophage cells stably expressing a luciferase reporter gene directed by iNOS or COX-2 promoter. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) treatment stimulated the luciferase activity which paralleled with increased iNOS and COX-2 mRNA levels determined by RT-q-PCR. The LPS-stimulated luciferase activity was blocked by NF-κB inhibitor CAPE and by nobiletin, an anti-inflammatory natural product from citrus peels. We have applied the platforms to screen various mushroom species; analysis by scatter plot revealed a strong correlation to the results obtained by ELISA-based detection of TNF-α. Together we have established luciferase reporter systems sensitive to NF-κB-dependent iNOS and COX-2 activation, which provides an alternative screening method for identifying food components with immune-modulatory activities.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / analysis*
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / immunology
  • Biological Assay / instrumentation
  • Biological Assay / methods*
  • Citrus / chemistry*
  • Cyclooxygenase 2 / genetics
  • Cyclooxygenase 2 / immunology
  • Genes, Reporter*
  • Macrophages / drug effects
  • Macrophages / enzymology
  • Macrophages / immunology
  • Mice
  • NF-kappa B / analysis
  • NF-kappa B / immunology*
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / genetics
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / immunology
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • NF-kappa B
  • Plant Extracts
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II
  • Cyclooxygenase 2