Qian Wang1, Bin Zhang2, Jin-Long Yu3. 1. Department of Pharmacy, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250000, China. 2. Department of Pharmacy, The Second Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250000, China. 3. Department of Pharmacy, The Second Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250000, China. Electronic address: yujinlongwx@163.com.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Farrerol, a new type of 2,3-dihydro-flavonoid isolated from rhododendron, has been shown to have anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory activities. In the present study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory effects of farrerol on the production of IL-6 and IL-8 in human gingival fibroblasts (HGFs) treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). METHODS: The cytotoxicity of farrerol was determined using the MTT assay. The production of IL-6 and IL-8 was measured using ELISA and qRT-PCR. The effects of farrerol on PI3K, Akt phosphorylation, and NF-κB activation were detected using western blotting analyses. RESULTS: These results showed that farrerol inhibited LPS-induced IL-6 and IL-8 production in a dose dependent manner. LPS-induced NF-κB activation was suppressed by farrerol. Furthermore, farrerol suppressed LPS-induced PI3K and Akt phosphorylation, which are upstream molecules of NF-κB. CONCLUSION: These results indicated that farrerol attenuated IL-6 and IL-8 production by inhibition of PI3K and AKT phosphorylation, resulting in an inhibition of NF-κB activation. Farrerol may be a therapeutic agent for the treatment of periodontal disease.
OBJECTIVES:Farrerol, a new type of 2,3-dihydro-flavonoid isolated from rhododendron, has been shown to have anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory activities. In the present study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory effects of farrerol on the production of IL-6 and IL-8 in human gingival fibroblasts (HGFs) treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). METHODS: The cytotoxicity of farrerol was determined using the MTT assay. The production of IL-6 and IL-8 was measured using ELISA and qRT-PCR. The effects of farrerol on PI3K, Akt phosphorylation, and NF-κB activation were detected using western blotting analyses. RESULTS: These results showed that farrerol inhibited LPS-induced IL-6 and IL-8 production in a dose dependent manner. LPS-induced NF-κB activation was suppressed by farrerol. Furthermore, farrerol suppressed LPS-induced PI3K and Akt phosphorylation, which are upstream molecules of NF-κB. CONCLUSION: These results indicated that farrerol attenuated IL-6 and IL-8 production by inhibition of PI3K and AKT phosphorylation, resulting in an inhibition of NF-κB activation. Farrerol may be a therapeutic agent for the treatment of periodontal disease.