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Shikonin Inhibits Inflammatory Cytokine Production in Human Periodontal Ligament Cells

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Abstract

Shikonin, which is derived from Lithospermum erythrorhizon, a herb used in traditional medicine, has long been considered to be a useful treatment for various diseases in traditional oriental medicine. Shikonin has recently been reported to have several pharmacological properties, e.g., it has anti-microbial, anti-tumor, and anti-inflammatory effects. The aim of this study was to examine whether shikonin is able to influence the production of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, and/or chemokine C-C motif ligand (CCL)20, which contribute to the pathogenesis of periodontal disease, in human periodontal ligament cells (HPDLC). The production levels of IL-6, IL-8, and CCL20 in HPDLC were determined using an ELISA. Western blot analysis was used to detect nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) pathway activation in HPDLC. Shikonin prevented IL-1β- or tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α-mediated IL-6, IL-8, and CCL20 production in HPDLC. Moreover, we found that shikonin suppressed the phosphorylation and degradation of inhibitor of kappa B-alpha (IκB-α) in IL-1β- or TNF-α-stimulated HPDLC. These findings suggest that shikonin could have direct beneficial effects against periodontal disease by reducing IL-6, IL-8, and CCL20 production in periodontal lesions.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C) (25463219 and 15 K11392) from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Conservative Dentistry, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima University Graduate School, 3-18-15 Kuramoto-cho, Tokushima, Tokushima, 770-8504, Japan

    Satoru Shindo, Yoshitaka Hosokawa, Ikuko Hosokawa & Takashi Matsuo

  2. Department of Oral Health Care Promotion, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima University Graduate School, Tokushima, Tokushima, Japan

    Kazumi Ozaki

Authors
  1. Satoru Shindo
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  2. Yoshitaka Hosokawa
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  3. Ikuko Hosokawa
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  4. Kazumi Ozaki
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  5. Takashi Matsuo
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Correspondence to Yoshitaka Hosokawa.

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Shindo, S., Hosokawa, Y., Hosokawa, I. et al. Shikonin Inhibits Inflammatory Cytokine Production in Human Periodontal Ligament Cells. Inflammation 39, 1124–1129 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10753-016-0344-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10753-016-0344-0

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