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β-Sitosterol Reduces the Expression of Chemotactic Cytokine Genes in Cystic Fibrosis Bronchial Epithelial Cells
- Source :
- Frontiers in Pharmacology, Vol 8 (2017)
- Publication Year :
- 2017
- Publisher :
- Frontiers Media S.A., 2017.
-
Abstract
- Extracts from Nigella arvensis L. seeds, which are widely used as anti-inflammatory remedies in traditional medicine of Northern Africa, were able to inhibit the expression of the pro-inflammatory neutrophil chemokine Interleukin (IL)-8 in Cystic Fibrosis (CF) bronchial epithelial IB3-1 cells exposed to the Gram-negative bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The chemical composition of the extracts led to the identification of three major components, β-sitosterol, stigmasterol, and campesterol, which are the most abundant phytosterols, cholesterol-like molecules, usually found in plants. β-sitosterol (BSS) was the only compound that significantly reproduced the inhibition of the P. aeruginosa-dependent expression of IL-8 at nanomolar concentrations. BSS was tested in CF airway epithelial CuFi-1 cells infected with P. aeruginosa. BSS (100 nM), showed a significant and consistent inhibitory activity on expression of the P. aeruginosa-stimulated expression chemokines IL-8, GRO-α GRO-β, which play a pivotal role in the recruitment of neutrophils in CF inflamed lungs. Preliminary mechanistic analysis showed that BSS partially inhibits the P. aeruginosa-dependent activation of Protein Kinase C isoform alpha, which is known to be involved in the transmembrane signaling activating IL-8 gene expression in bronchial epithelial cells. These data indicate BSS as a promising molecule to control excessive lung inflammation in CF patients.
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 16639812
- Volume :
- 8
- Database :
- Directory of Open Access Journals
- Journal :
- Frontiers in Pharmacology
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- edsdoj.623e9655a43944028c75901f8830d661
- Document Type :
- article
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2017.00236