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Suppression of phorbol ester-induced nf-κB activation by capsaicin in cultured human promyelocytic leukemia cells

Archives of Pharmacal Research volume 25, pages 475–479 (2002)Cite this article

Abstract

Capsaicin, a major pungent constituent of red pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) possesses a vast variety of pharmacologic and physiologic activities. Despite its irritant properties, the compound exerts anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive effects. Previous studies from this laboratory revealed that capsaicin, when topically applied onto dorsal skin of female ICR mice, strongly attenuated activation of NF-κB and AP-1 induced by the typical tumor promoter, 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA), which may account for its anti-tumor promoting activity in mouse skin. In the present work, we have found that capsaicin suppresses TPA-stimulated activation of NF-κB through inhibition of IκBα degradation and blockade of subsequent nuclear translocation of p65 in human promyelocytic leukemia HL-60 cells. Methylation of the phenolic hydroxyl group of capsaicin abolished its inhibitory effect on NF-κB DNA binding. Likewise, TPA-induced activation of AP-1 was mitigated by capsaicin treatment.

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Affiliations

  1. Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, 151-742, Seoul, Korea

    Seong-Su Han, Young-Sam Keum, Kyung-Soo Chun & Young-Joon Surh

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  1. Seong-Su Han
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  2. Young-Sam Keum
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  3. Kyung-Soo Chun
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  4. Young-Joon Surh
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Correspondence to Young-Joon Surh.

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Han, SS., Keum, YS., Chun, KS. et al. Suppression of phorbol ester-induced nf-κB activation by capsaicin in cultured human promyelocytic leukemia cells. Arch Pharm Res 25, 475–479 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02976605

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02976605

Key words

  • Activator protein-1 (AP-1)
  • Capsaicin
  • HL-60 cells
  • NF-κB
  • TPA