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Heptadecane is a volatile component of Spirulina platensis, and blocks the de novo synthesis of fatty acids and ameliorates several oxidative stress-related diseases. In a redox state disrupted by oxidative stress, pro-inflammatory genes are upregulated by the activation of NF-kB via diverse kinases. Thus, the search and characterization of new substances that modulate NF-kB are lively research topics. In the present study, heptadecane was examined in terms of its ability to suppress inflammatory NF-kB activation via redox-related NIK/IKK and MAPKs pathway in aged rats. In the first part of the study, Fischer 344 rats, aged 9 and 20 months, were administered on average approximately 20 or 40 mg/Kg body weight over 10 days. The potency of heptadecane was investigated by examining its ability to suppress the gene expressions of COX-2 and iNOS (both NF-κB-related genes) and reactive species (RS) production in aged kidney tissue. In the second part of the study, YPEN-1 cells (an endothelial cell line) were used to explore the molecular mechanism underlying the anti-inflammatory effect of heptadecane by examining its modulation of NF-kB and NF-kB signal pathway. Results showed that heptadecane exhibited a potent anti-oxidative effect by protecting YPEN-1 cells from tert-butylhydroperoxide induced oxidative stress. Further molecular investigations revealed that heptadecane attenuated RS-induced NF-kB via the NIK/IKK and MAPKs pathways in YPEN-1 cells and aged kidney tissues. Based on these results, we conclude that heptadecane suppresses age-related increases in pro-inflammatory gene expressions by reducing NF-kB activity by upregulating the NIK/IKK and MAPKs pathways induced by RS. These findings provide molecular insight of the mechanisms by which heptadecane exerts its antiinflammatory effect in aged kidney tissues. We conclude that heptadecane suppresses age-related increases in pro-inflammatory gene expressions then travel upstream set by step by reducing NF-kB activity by downregulating the NIK/IKK and MAPKs pathways induced by RS.

Baicalin, a herb-derived flavonoid compound, has beneficial activities, including the modulation of oxidative stress and inflammation. Nuclear receptor peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ) is a ligand-activated transcription factor that plays an important role in regulating nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB)-induced age-related inflammation. We investigated the anti-inflammatory action of baicalin, which depends on its ability to activate PPARγ, and subsequently to suppress NF-κB. We examined baicalin-treated kidney tissue from 24-month-old Fischer 344 aged rats (10 or 20 mg/kg/day for 10 days) and baicalin-fed mice (10 mg/kg/day for 3 days) for in vivo investigations, and used endothelial YPEN-1 cells for in vitro studies. In the baicalin-fed aged rats, there was a marked enhancement of both nuclear protein levels and DNA binding activity of PPARγ, and a decreased expression of NF-κB target genes (VCAM-1, IL-1β, and IL-6) compared with non-baicalin-fed aged rats. Furthermore, to confirm the anti-inflammatory action of PPARγ activated by baicalin, we used lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated cells and mice. The results showed that baicalin induced PPARγ-selective activation in YPEN-1 cells, and that the effects of baicalin were blocked by the PPARγ receptor antagonist, GW9662. In addition, baicalin treatment prevented RS generation, NF-κB activation and the expression of pro-inflammatory genes, whereas it increased PPARγ expression in LPS-treated cells and mouse kidney. Our data suggest that baicalin-induced PPARγ expression reduced age-related inflammation through blocking pro-inflammatory NF-κB activation. These results indicate that baicalin is a novel PPARγ activator and that this agent may have the potential to minimize inflammation.

Angiotensin II (Ang II), a main effector of the renin-angiotensin system, is recognized as a pro-inflammatory mediator on age-related vascular inflammation. Ang II is one of the most important oxidative stress inducer, activates the redox-sensitive transcription factor, nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) during aging. Genistein, a major component found in isoflavone, has anti-inflammatory activities that are often associated with its anti-oxidative activity. The purpose of this study is to document molecular mechanism of altered Ang II-related NF-κB activation during aging and inhibitory molecular events by genistein regarding to age-related Ang II-induced NF-κB activation. At present, we utilized young (6 months old), old (24 months old), and genistein-treated (2 and 4 mg/kg/day for 10 days) old rats. For our current study, we choose to use the kidney and rat endothelial cell line, YPEN-1 because of its vulnerability to age-related oxidative stress and inflammatory responsiveness. The results of the analysis showed that Ang II and AT1 expression increased during aging and that these increases were blunted by treatment with genistein. Furthermore, we investigated the inhibitory effects of genistein on the Ang II-induced redox imbalance in aged rat kidneys. Genistein reduced age-related increases in NF-κB activity and NF-κB-dependent pro-inflammatory genes expression. We also determined genistein attenuated Ang II-induced NF-κB activation through its anti-oxidant activity in YPEN-1 cells. Taken together, our present results show that genistein has potent anti-inflammatory effect resulting in the attenuation of the Ang II-induced NF-κB activation during aging. The most significant new finding from this study is that genistein exerts its anti-Ang II action during aging by suppressive effect of NF-κB activation. Based on these data, genistein may be an anti-Ang II agent that may be used in anti-inflammatory therapies.

Soybean has many compounds with a variety of biological properties that potentially benefit human health; among them, isoflavones have inhibitory effects on lipid oxidation in adipose tissue. In this study, we examined two Korean traditional fermented soybean products--doenjang (DNJ) and cheonggukjang (CGJ)--for their ability to suppress redox-sensitive nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) activation in the kidney of rats fed a high-fat diet. Sprague-Dawley rats, 4 weeks old, were fed soybean, DNJ, or CGJ (1 g/kg/day) with a 20% fat diet for 6 weeks. Body weight and food intake were carefully monitored. NF-κB-related activities of genes for inflammatory proteins, such as inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), were determined. The soybean products exhibited antioxidative action by maintaining redox regulation, suppressing NF-κB activation, and modulating the expression of genes for NF-κB-induced inflammatory proteins such as COX-2, iNOS, and VCAM-1. Based on these results, we conclude that Korean traditional soybean fermented products, especially CGJ, suppress the generation of reactive species, NF-κB activity, and NF-κB-related inflammatory genes.

Zingerone, a major component found in ginger root, has been known as anti-mutagenic and anti-carcinogenic activities that are often associated with its anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory activities. In recent studies, we examined molecular mechanism of zingerone treatment on pro-inflammatory NF-kappaB activation via the redox-related NIK/IKK and MAPK pathways. Action mechanism of zingerone on NF-kappaB signaling was investigated in aged rat kidney and endothelial cells. The results showed that zingerone had not only the antioxidant effect by constitutive suppression of ROS, but also anti-inflammatory effects by suppression of nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB activation in aged rat. In addition, zingerone treatment suppressed gene activation of pro-inflammatory enzymes, COX-2 and iNOS, which were upregulated with aging through NF-kappaB activation and IKK/MAPK signaling pathway. These experiments strongly indicate that zingerone treatment exerts a beneficial efficacy by suppressing both oxidative stress and age-related inflammation through the modulation of several key pro-inflammatory genes and transcription factors. Thus, the significance of our findings is that the zingerone treatment may provide some preventive measure against chronic inflammatory conditions that underlie many age-related inflammatory diseases, such as metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease, dementia, arthritis, diabetes, osteoprosis, and cancers., (2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Morin is a flavone that has anti-inflammatory effects through a mechanism that is not well understood. Based on the extreme sensitive nature of the transcription factor, NF-kB to redox change, it is postulated that morin's anti-NF-kappaB activation likely depends on its ability to scavenge excessive reactive species [RS]. The present study assessed the extent of morin's ability to modulate RS-induced NF-kappaB activation through its scavenging activity. Results indicate that morin neutralized RS in vitro and inhibited t-BHP-induced RS generation. It also examined morin for suppressed redox-sensitive transcription factor NF-kappaB activation via reduced DNA binding activity, I kappaB alpha phosphorylation and p65/p50 nuclear translocation. The more important finding was that suppression of the NF-kappaB cascade by morin was modulated through the ERK and p38 MAPKs signal transduction pathways in endothelial cells. As a consequence, morin's anti-oxidant effect extended expression level of NF-kappaB dependent pro-inflammatory genes, thereby reducing COX-2, iNOS and 5-LOX. The data indicate that morin has strong anti-oxidative power against RS-induced NF-kappaB modulation through the ERK and p38 MAPKs signalling pathways by its RS scavenging activity. The significance of the current study is the new revelation that morin may have potential as an effective anti-inflammatory therapeutic agent.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs), members of the nuclear hormone receptor family, are key regulators of various metabolic pathways related to lipid and glucose metabolism as well as inflammation. We examined the effect of zingerone, a major ingredient of ginger, on PPAR, hepatic nuclear factor-4 (HNF-4), and nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) expression in 21-month-old male Sprague-Dawley rats. Two experimental groups receiving doses of either 2 or 8 mg/kg/day zingerone for 10 days were compared with young rats (6 months old) and an age-matched control group. For molecular work, the endothelial cell line YPEN-1 was used. Both the 2 and 8 mg/kg/day dose of zingerone significantly increased DNA binding activities of PPARs (2.8-fold). Expression of HNF-4 was also increased in the group receiving the 8 mg/kg/day dose. We further showed that zingerone partially prevented the age-related decline in PPAR expression. In vitro experiments revealed zingerone (10 microM) increased PPAR expression (2.5-fold) to a similar extent as the PPAR agonist fibrate (5 microM) and suppressed pro-inflammatory transcription factor NF-kappaB activity. Collectively, our findings suggest that zingerone exerts its potent anti-inflammatory action by increasing HNF-4 and PPAR activities, while suppressing NF-kappaB activity.

Kaempferol, one of the phytoestrogens, is found in berries and Brassica and Allium species and is known to have antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties. In the present study, we examined the molecular mechanisms underlying the anti-inflammation effect of kaempferol in an aged animal model. To examine the effect of kaempferol in aged Sprague-Dawley rats, kaempferol was fed at 2 or 4 mg/kg/day for 10 days. The data show that kaempferol exhibited the ability to maintain redox balance. Kaempferol suppressed nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) activation and expression of its target genes cyclooxygenase-2, inducible nitric oxide synthase, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, and regulated upon activation, and normal T-cell expressed and secreted in aged rat kidney and in tert-butylhydroperoxide-induced YPEN-1 cells. Furthermore, kaempferol suppressed the increase of the pro-inflammatory NF-kappaB cascade through modulation of nuclear factor-inducing kinase (NIK)/IkappaB kinase (IKK) and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) in aged rat kidney. Based on these results, we concluded that anti-oxidative kaempferol suppressed the activation of inflammatory NF-kappaB transcription factor through NIK/IKK and MAPKs in aged rat kidney.

Betaine is an important human nutrient obtained from various foods. In the present study, we assessed the anti-inflammatory effect of betaine on nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) during aging. Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats, ages 7 and 21 months, were used in this study. The older rats were fed betaine. To elucidate the effect of betaine on oxidative stress-induced NF-kappaB and its signaling pathway at molecular levels, YPEN-1 cells were used. Results showed that betaine suppressed NF-kappaB and its related gene expressions of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), and intracellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) in aged kidney. Furthermore, betaine attenuated oxidative stress-induced NF-kappaB via nuclear factor-inducing kinase/IkappaB kinase (NIK/IKK) and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) in the YPEN-1 cells. On the basis of these results, we concluded that betaine suppressed the age-related NF-kappaB activities associated with upregulated NIK/IKK and MAPKs that were induced by oxidative stress. Thus, betaine might be useful as a preventive agent against the activation of NF-kappaB induced during inflammation and aging.

Morin is a flavone that has anti-inflammatory effects through a mechanism that is not well understood. Based on the extreme sensitive nature of the transcription factor, NF-kB to redox change, it is postulated that morin's anti-NF-κB activation likely depends on its ability to scavenge excessive reactive species [RS]. The present study assessed the extent of morin's ability to modulate RS-induced NF- κB activation through its scavenging activity. Results indicate that morin neutralized RS in vitro and inhibited t-BHP-induced RS generation. It also examined morin for suppressed redox-sensitive transcription factor NF- κB activation via reduced DNA binding activity, I κBα phosphorylation and p65/p50 nuclear translocation. The more important finding was that suppression of the NF- κB cascade by morin was modulated through the ERK and p38 MAPKs signal transduction pathways in endothelial cells. As a consequence, morin's anti-oxidant effect extended expression level of NF- κB dependent pro-inflammatory genes, thereby reducing COX-2, iNOS and 5-LOX. The data indicate that morin has strong anti-oxidative power against RS-induced NF- κB modulation through the ERK and p38 MAPKs signalling pathways by its RS scavenging activity. The significance of the current study is the new revelation that morin may have potential as an effective anti-inflammatory therapeutic agent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The current study explored if α-iso-cubebene, a novel cubebene sesquiterpene compound purified from Schisandra chinensis, could attenuate the activities of adhesion molecules in tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)-stimulated human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). The study was performed on HUVECs that were pretreated with 25 μg/ml of α-iso-cubebene before TNF-α treatment. Treatment of HUVECs with α-iso-cubebene for 6 h significantly inhibited TNF-α-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation. HUVECs treated with α-iso-cubebene showed markedly suppressed TNF-α-induced mRNA expression of VCAM-1 and E-selectin, but little alteration in ICAM-1 mRNA expression. α-iso-Cubebene treatment also significantly decreased the TNF-α-induced cell surface and total protein expression of VCAM-1 and E-selectin without affecting ICAM-1 expression. In addition, treatment of HUVECs with α-iso-cubebene markedly reduced U937 monocyte adhesion to TNF-α-stimulated HUVECs. α-iso-Cubebene treatment did not affect translocation of NF-κB transcription factor from the cytosol into the nucleus. However, α-iso-cubebene significantly inhibited NF-κB transcription factor activation in TNF-α-stimulated HUVECs. The new anti-inflammatory agent α-iso-cubebene attenuates TNF-α-stimulated endothelial adhesion to monocytes by inhibiting intracellular ROS production, the activation of redox-sensitive NF-κB transcription factor and expression of VCAM-1 and E-selectin. Based on these findings, α-iso-cubebene is proposed as an effective new anti-inflammatory agent that may have a potential therapeutic use for the prevention and treatment of vascular diseases. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]