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Indirubin-3-monoxime exhibits anti-inflammatory properties by down-regulating NF-κB and JNK signaling pathways in lipopolysaccharide-treated RAW264.7 cells

Inflammation Research volume 61, pages 319–325 (2012)Cite this article

Abstract

Objective

Indirubin-3-monoxime (I3M), an indirubin analogue that shows favorable inhibitory activity targeting cyclin-dependent kinase and glycogen synthase kinase, exhibits various biological properties, including chemopreventive, antiangiogenic, and neuropreventive activities. In the present study, we investigated the ability of I3M to regulate inflammatory reactions in macrophages.

Methods

The effects of I3M on inflammation, lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced releases of inflammatory mediators, nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling was examined by ELISA and Western blotting analysis.

Results

I3M suppressed not only the generation of nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 but also the expression of inducible NO synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 induced by LPS. Similarly, I3M inhibited the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines induced by LPS in RAW264.7 cells, including interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-6. The underlying mechanism of I3M on anti-inflammatory action was correlated with down-regulation of the NF-κB and MAPK activation.

Conclusions

Our data collectively indicate that I3M inhibited the production of several inflammatory mediators and might be used for the treatment of various inflammatory diseases.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by research grants from the Catholic University of Daegu in 2011.

Conflict of interest

None declared.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biomedical Science, College of Natural Science, Catholic University of Daegu, 330 Geumrak-Ri, Gyeoungsan-Si, 700-712, Korea

    Jin-Kyung Kim & Geun-Mook Park

Authors
  1. Jin-Kyung Kim
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  2. Geun-Mook Park
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Correspondence to Jin-Kyung Kim.

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Responsible Editor: Liwu Li.

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Kim, JK., Park, GM. Indirubin-3-monoxime exhibits anti-inflammatory properties by down-regulating NF-κB and JNK signaling pathways in lipopolysaccharide-treated RAW264.7 cells. Inflamm. Res. 61, 319–325 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00011-011-0413-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00011-011-0413-7

Keywords

  • Inflammation
  • Indirubin-3-monoxime
  • NF-κB
  • Macrophage
  • Inflammatory mediators