Chijabyukpi-Tang Inhibits Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines and Chemokines via the Nrf2/HO-1 Signaling Pathway in TNF-α/IFN-γ-Stimulated HaCaT Cells and Ameliorates 2,4-Dinitrochlorobenzene-Induced Atopic Dermatitis-Like Skin Lesions in Mice

7,8-dimethoxycoumarin (DMC, C11H10O4), a natural coumarin compound, is present in Citrus plants including Citrus decumana and grapefruit. It is known to have protective effects on the kidneys against Cisplatin and ischemia-reperfusion injury. However, the underlying mechanisms of its inhibitory effects on skin inflammation have not been investigated in vitro. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α is known to be one of the main causative agents of skin inflammation. It induces pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines by activating nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling. In this study, we investigated the inhibitory effect of DMC on the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines in TNF-α-treated human keratinocyte HaCaT cells. Pretreatment with DMC inhibited TNF-α-treated cytokines (interleukin 6; IL-6) and chemokines (IL-8 and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1). In addition, DMC significantly inhibited TNF-α-treated NF-κB activation and phosphorylation of MAPKs, such as c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNK) and extracellular-signal-regulated kinase (ERK). These results suggest that DMC may elicit an anti-inflammatory response by suppressing TNF-α-treated activation of NF-κB and MAPK pathways in keratinocytes. Hence, it might be a useful therapeutic drug against skin inflammatory diseases.

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Orostachys japonicus ethanol extract inhibits 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene-induced atopic dermatitis-like skin lesions in NC/Nga mice and TNF-α/IFN-γ-induced TARC expression in HaCaT cells

Toxicological Research ◽

10.1007/s43188-019-00026-0 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 36 (2) ◽

pp. 99-108

Author(s):

Jae Ho Choi ◽

Sun Woo Jin ◽

Gi Ho Lee ◽

Song Mi Cho ◽

Hye Gwang Jeong

Keyword(s):

Atopic Dermatitis ◽

Ethanol Extract ◽

Skin Lesions ◽

Hacat Cells ◽

Tnf Α ◽

Ifn Γ

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Cultivated ginseng inhibits 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene-induced atopic dermatitis-like skin lesions in NC/Nga mice and TNF-α/IFN-γ-induced TARC activation in HaCaT cells

Food and Chemical Toxicology ◽

10.1016/j.fct.2013.02.037 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 56 ◽

pp. 195-203 ◽

Cited By ~ 36

Author(s):

Jae Ho Choi ◽

Sun Woo Jin ◽

Bong Hwan Park ◽

Hyung Gyun Kim ◽

Tilak Khanal ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Atopic Dermatitis ◽

Skin Lesions ◽

Hacat Cells ◽

Tnf Α ◽

Ifn Γ

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Punicalagin Prevents Inflammation in LPS-Induced RAW264.7 Macrophages by Inhibiting FoxO3a/Autophagy Signaling Pathway

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu11112794 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (11) ◽

pp. 2794 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Cao ◽

Chen ◽

Ren ◽

Zhang ◽

Tan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Western Blot ◽

Signaling Pathway ◽

Inflammatory Cytokines ◽

Blot Analysis ◽

Western Blot Analysis ◽

Inflammatory Responses ◽

Raw264.7 Macrophages ◽

Tnf Α ◽

Autophagy Inhibition ◽

Pro Inflammatory Cytokines

Punicalagin, a hydrolysable tannin of pomegranate juice, exhibits multiple biological effects, including inhibiting production of pro-inflammatory cytokines in macrophages. Autophagy, an intracellular self-digestion process, has been recently shown to regulate inflammatory responses. In this study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory potential of punicalagin in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced RAW264.7 macrophages and uncovered the underlying mechanisms. Punicalagin significantly attenuated, in a concentration-dependent manner, LPS-induced release of NO and decreased pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-6 release at the highest concentration. We found that punicalagin inhibited NF-κB and MAPK activation in LPS-induced RAW264.7 macrophages. Western blot analysis revealed that punicalagin pre-treatment enhanced LC3II, p62 expression, and decreased Beclin1 expression in LPS-induced macrophages. MDC assays were used to determine the autophagic process and the results worked in concert with Western blot analysis. In addition, our observations indicated that LPS-induced releases of NO, TNF-α, and IL-6 were attenuated by treatment with autophagy inhibitor chloroquine, suggesting that autophagy inhibition participated in anti-inflammatory effect. We also found that punicalagin downregulated FoxO3a expression, resulting in autophagy inhibition. Overall these results suggested that punicalagin played an important role in the attenuation of LPS-induced inflammatory responses in RAW264.7 macrophages and that the mechanisms involved downregulation of the FoxO3a/autophagy signaling pathway.

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Impressic Acid Ameliorates Atopic Dermatitis-Like Skin Lesions by Inhibiting ERK1/2-Mediated Phosphorylation of NF-κB and STAT1

International Journal of Molecular Sciences ◽

10.3390/ijms22052334 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 22 (5) ◽

pp. 2334

Author(s):

Jae Ho Choi ◽

Gi Ho Lee ◽

Sun Woo Jin ◽

Ji Yeon Kim ◽

Yong Pil Hwang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Atopic Dermatitis ◽

Skin Lesions ◽

Histopathological Analysis ◽

Mrna Levels ◽

Chemokine Production ◽

Dermal Thickness ◽

Skin Symptoms ◽

Tnf Α ◽

Ifn Γ ◽

In Cells

Impressic acid (IPA), a lupane-type triterpenoid from Acanthopanax koreanum, has many pharmacological activities, including the attenuation of vascular endothelium dysfunction, cartilage destruction, and inflammatory diseases, but its influence on atopic dermatitis (AD)-like skin lesions is unknown. Therefore, we investigated the suppressive effect of IPA on 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB)-induced AD-like skin symptoms in mice and the underlying mechanisms in cells. IPA attenuated the DNCB-induced increase in the serum concentrations of IgE and thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP), and in the mRNA levels of thymus and activation regulated chemokine(TARC), macrophage derived chemokine (MDC), interleukin-4 (IL-4), interleukin-5 (IL-5), interleukin-13 (IL-13), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) in mice. Histopathological analysis showed that IPA reduced the epidermal/dermal thickness and inflammatory and mast cell infiltration of ear tissue. In addition, IPA attenuated the phosphorylation of NF-κB and IκBα, and the degradation of IκBα in ear lesions. Furthermore, IPA treatment suppressed TNF-α/IFN-γ-induced TARC expression by inhibiting the NF-κB activation in cells. Phosphorylation of extracellular signalregulated protein kinase (ERK1/2) and the signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1), the upstream signaling proteins, was reduced by IPA treatment in HaCaT cells. In conclusion, IPA ameliorated AD-like skin symptoms by regulating cytokine and chemokine production and so has therapeutic potential for AD-like skin lesions.

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Modulation of ACE-2 mRNA by inflammatory cytokines in human thyroid cells: a pilot study

Endocrine ◽

10.1007/s12020-021-02807-w ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Francesca Coperchini ◽

Gianluca Ricci ◽

Laura Croce ◽

Marco Denegri ◽

Rubina Ruggiero ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Inflammatory Cytokines ◽

Combination Treatment ◽

Primary Cultures ◽

Human Thyroid ◽

Thyroid Cell ◽

Mrna Levels ◽

Thyroid Cells ◽

Tnf Α ◽

Ifn Γ ◽

Pro Inflammatory Cytokines

Abstract Introduction Angiotensin-converting-enzyme-2 (ACE-2) was demonstrated to be the receptor for cellular entry of SARS-CoV-2. ACE-2 mRNA was identified in several human tissues and recently also in thyroid cells in vitro. Purpose Aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of pro-inflammatory cytokines on the ACE-2 mRNA levels in human thyroid cells in primary cultures. Methods Primary thyroid cell cultures were treated with IFN-γ and TNF-α alone or in combination for 24 h. ACE-2 mRNA levels were measured by RT-PCR. As a control, the levels of IFN-γ inducible chemokine (CXCL10) were measured in the respective cell culture supernatants. Results The mean levels of ACE-2 mRNA increased after treatment with IFN-γ and TNF-α in all the thyroid cell preparations, while the combination treatment did not consistently synergically increase ACE-2-mRNA. At difference, CXCL10 was consistently increased by IFN-γ and synergically further increased by the combination treatment with IFN-γ + TNF-α, with respect to IFN-γ alone. Conclusions The results of the present study show that IFN-γ and, to a lesser extent TNF-α consistently increase ACE-2 mRNA levels in NHT primary cultures. More interestingly, the combined stimulation (proven to be effective according to the synergic effect registered for CXCL10) produces different responses in terms of ACE-2 mRNA modulation. These results would suggest that elevated levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines could facilitate the entering of the virus in cells by further increasing ACE-2 expression and/or account for the different degree of severity of SARS-COV-2 infection. This hypothesis deserves to be confirmed by further specific studies.

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Skullcapflavone II Suppresses TNF-α/IFN-γ-Induced TARC, MDC, and CTSS Production in HaCaT Cells

International Journal of Molecular Sciences ◽

10.3390/ijms22126428 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 22 (12) ◽

pp. 6428

Author(s):

Hanon Lee ◽

Dong Hun Lee ◽

Jang-Hee Oh ◽

Jin Ho Chung

Keyword(s):

P38 Mapk ◽

Therapeutic Potential ◽

Inflammatory Diseases ◽

Mapk Signaling ◽

Hacat Cells ◽

Protein Levels ◽

Tnf Α ◽

Ifn Γ ◽

Mapk Signaling Pathways ◽

Pro Inflammatory Cytokines

Skullcapflavone II (SFII), a flavonoid derived from Scutellaria baicalensis, has been reported to have anti-inflammatory properties. However, its therapeutic potential for skin inflammatory diseases and its mechanism are unknown. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effect of SFII on TNF-α/IFN-γ-induced atopic dermatitis (AD)-associated cytokines, such as thymus- and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC) and macrophage-derived chemokine (MDC). Co-stimulation with TNF-α/IFN-γ in HaCaT cells is a well-established model for induction of pro-inflammatory cytokines. We treated cells with SFII prior to TNF-α/IFN-γ-stimulation and confirmed that it significantly inhibited TARC and MDC expression at the mRNA and protein levels. Additionally, SFII also inhibited the expression of cathepsin S (CTSS), which is associated with itching in patients with AD. Using specific inhibitors, we demonstrated that STAT1, NF-κB, and p38 MAPK mediate TNF-α/IFN-γ-induced TARC and MDC, as well as CTSS expression. Finally, we confirmed that SFII significantly suppressed TNF-α/IFN-γ-induced phosphorylation of STAT1, NF-κB, and p38 MAPK. Taken together, our study indicates that SFII inhibits TNF-α/IFN-γ-induced TARC, MDC, and CTSS expression by regulating STAT1, NF-κB, and p38 MAPK signaling pathways.

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