Parthenolide (PTL) shows potent anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer activities. In the present study, the molecular mechanisms of PTL's activities were explored in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced human leukemia monocytic THP-1 cells and human primary monocytes. The 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium salt (MTS) assay was used to analyze the effect of PTL on THP-1 cell viability. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to determine the effect of PTL on LPS-induced inflammatory cytokine secretion. Flow cytometry and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction were used to assess the effect of PTL on LPS-induced toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) expression. Phosphorylation levels of signaling molecules were determined by western blot analysis. Results showed that PTL <12.5 μM did not significantly affect THP-1 cells viability. LPS treatment led to a marked up-regulation of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1β, IL-8, IL-12p40, tumor necrosis factor-α, IL-18, and NO in THP-1 cells. However, PTL inhibited the expression of these cytokines in a dose-dependent manner, with IC50 values of 1.091-2.620 μM. PTL blocked TLR4 expression with an IC50 value of 1.373 μM as determined by the flow cytometry analysis, and this blocking effect was verified at both protein and mRNA levels. Up-regulation of phosphorylation levels of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2, Jun N-terminal kinase, p38, nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) p65, and IκBα and up-regulation of expressions of other molecules (inducible nitric oxide synthase, TLR4, and TNF receptor-associated factor 6) induced by LPS were abolished by PTL in a dose-dependent manner. The anti-inflammatory mechanisms of PTL operate partly through the TLR4-mediated mitogen-activated protein kinase and NF-κB signaling pathways. Therefore, TLR4 may be a new target for anti-inflammation therapies.
Keywords: MAPK; TLR4; anti-inflammation; inflammatory cytokine; parthenolide.
© The Author 2015. Published by ABBS Editorial Office in association with Oxford University Press on behalf of the Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences.