Sesamin increases heme oxygenase-1 protein in RAW 264.7 macrophages through inhibiting its ubiquitination process.

Sesamin is a major component in lignans of sesame seed oil, known to possess potent anti-oxidative capacity. In this study, the variation of heme oxygenase (HO)-1, a kind of anti-oxidative enzyme, by sesamin in murine macrophage cell line RAW 264.7 cells was investigated. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS; 10µg/ml) exposure tended to increase HO-1 protein expression. Co-treatment with 100µM sesamin for 12h up-regulated the HO-1 protein level increased by LPS; however, HO-1 mRNA was unaffected. Sesamin delayed the reversal, by the protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide (1µM), of the LPS-induced increase of HO-1 protein level. Meanwhile, sesamin suppressed LPS-induced expression of inducible nitric oxide (NO) synthase (iNOS) protein and associated NO release. LPS-induced increase of iNOS protein expression was also reversed by cycloheximide, which was not affected by sesamin, unlike HO-1. To clarify the mechanisms that underlie the up-regulation of HO-1 protein level by sesamin, the human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293T cell line transfected with Flag-tagged HO-1 was used. A proteasome inhibitor, MG-132 (10µM), stabilized HO-1 protein in HEK 293T cells. Co-treatment with sesamin decreased ubiquitinated HO-1 protein accumulation by MG-132. However, sesamin did not affect the proteasome activity. These findings suggest that sesamin disturbs the degradation of HO-1 protein through inhibiting its ubiquitination, resulting in HO-1 protein up-regulation.

HMGB1 inhibitor glycyrrhizin attenuates intracerebral hemorrhage-induced injury in rats.

Thrombin activates immunocompetent microglia and increases release of inflammatory cytokines under intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) insults. Also, thrombin injection into the striatum evokes acute necrosis and delayed apoptosis of neurons. A nucleoprotein high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) that is released from necrotic cells has been suggested to behave like a cytokine and cause over-facilitation of immune functions. Here we examined the effect of glycyrrhizin, known as an inhibitor of HMGB1, on thrombin-induced injury in rat cortico-striatal slice cultures and in vivo rat ICH model. In slice cultures, thrombin-induced a drastic increase in propidium iodide fluorescence indicating necrotic cell death in the cortical region, and robust shrinkage of the striatal tissue. Glycyrrhizin (10-100 µM) attenuated thrombin-induced cortical injury in a concentration-dependent manner. The protective effect of glycyrrhizin was not mediated by glucocorticoid receptors or modulation of nitric oxide production, but was reversed by exogenous HMGB1 application. The injury induced by a high concentration of HMGB1 was suppressed by glycyrrhizin. In vivo, unilateral injection of type IV collagenase into rat striatum induced ICH associated with brain edema formation, contralateral paralysis and neuron death. Once daily intraperitoneal administration of glycyrrhizin attenuated ICH-induced edema in both the cortex and the basal ganglia, and improved behavioral performance of rats in forelimb placing. Moreover, glycyrrhizin partially but significantly ameliorated ICH-induced neuron loss inside hematoma. These findings suggest that an HMGB1 inhibitor glycyrrhizin is a potential candidate for a remedy for ICH.