Liquiritin, a flavone compound from licorice, inhibits IL-1β-induced inflammatory responses in SW982 human synovial cells. (June 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gao, Yao-Xin; Cheng, Bin-Feng; Lian, Jun-Jiang; Guo, Dan-Dan; Qin, Jing-Wen; Zhang, Yong-Bo; Yang, Hai-Jie; Wang, Mian; Wang, Lei; Feng, Zhi-Wei
• Is Part Of: Journal of functional foods. Volume 33(2017)
• Page Start: 142
• Page End: 148
• Publication Date: 2017-06
• Subjects: MTT 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide -- RA rheumatoid arthritis -- DAPI 4, 6-diamidino-2-phenylindole -- DMSO dimethyl sulfoxide -- AP-1 activation protein-1 -- AMPK adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase -- MAPK mitogen-activated protein kinase -- ERK extracellular signal-related kinase -- p38 mitogen - activated protein kinase -- JNK c-jun N-terminal kinase -- NF-κB nuclear factor-κB; Liquiritin -- IL-6 -- IL-8 -- SW982 cells -- Rheumatoid arthritis; Functional foods -- Analysis -- Periodicals; Food -- Biotechnology -- Periodicals; Nutrition -- Periodicals; 613.2
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jff.2017.03.039
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1756-4646

Abstract

Graphical abstract: The aim of this study is to elucidate effects and mechanisms of liquiritin, a flavone compound derived from licorice, in IL-1β-stimulated SW982 human synovial cells. Our data demonstrate that liquiritin significantly inhibits the expression of IL-6 and IL-8 via inhibition of JNK, p38 MAPK, AP-1, AMPK and NF-κB signaling in IL-1β-induced SW982 cells. These findings support the potential use of liquiritin as an effective therapeutic agent for rheumatoid arthritis treatment. Highlights: Liquiritin is a flavone compound derived from the sweetening agent licorice. First report on anti-inflammatory effects of liquiritin in human synovial cells. Liquiritin reduced IL-1β-induced IL-6 and IL-8 production in SW982 cells. Activation of p38, JNK, AP-1, AMPK and NF-κB were inhibited by liquiritin. Abstract: Liquiritin is one of flavone compounds derived from licorice, a common flavoring and sweetening agent in food products. This study investigated the effects and mechanisms of liquiritin in interleukin (IL)-1β-stimulated SW982 human synovial cells, which is a useful tool to study the inflammatory response of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The SW982 cells were pretreated with various concentrations (0, 10 and 40 μM) of liquiritin, followed by IL-1β (10 ng/mL) stimulation. Liquiritin significantly inhibited protein and mRNA levels of inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and IL-8 in IL-1β-stimulated SW982 cells. Liquiritin suppressed IL-1β-induced phosphorylation of p38, c-jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), and adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK), inhibited p-c-Jun activation and decreased p65 protein translocation into the nucleus induced by IL-1β. These results indicate that liquiritin exerts an anti-inflammatory effect via modulating JNK, p38, activator protein-1 (AP-1), AMPK and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) pathways in IL-1β-induced human synovial cells.