Anti-inflammatory properties of Morus bombycis Koidzumi via inhibiting IFN-ß signaling and NLRP3 inflammasome activation.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Morus bombycis Koidzumi (M. bombycis, Moraceae) has been used in Asian countries as a traditional medicine for the treatment of hypertension, diabetes, and inflammation-related disorders. AIM OF STUDY: Although its anti-inflammatory actions have been partly documented, scientific evidence involving its molecular mechanisms related to inflammasome activation signaling pathways remains unknown. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells and bone marrow-derived murine macrophages were used to study the in vitro effect of methanolic extract of M. bombycis (MB) on inflammatory responses. A monosodium urate crystal (MSU)-induced peritonitis murine model was used to study the in vivo effects. RESULTS: MB attenuated the production of nitric oxide and interleukin-6, through the regulation of the interferon-ß receptor signaling pathway. MB also inhibited IL-1ß secretion via attenuation of NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Furthermore, MB inhibited MSU-induced peritonitis in the in vivo murine model. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides the key molecular mechanisms involved in the anti-inflammatory effects of M. bombycis, substantiating the traditional claims of its use in the treatment of inflammation-related disorders.

Anti-Inflammatory Action of an Antimicrobial Model Peptide That Suppresses the TRIF-Dependent Signaling Pathway via Inhibition of Toll-Like Receptor 4 Endocytosis in Lipopolysaccharide-Stimulated Macrophages.

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), also called host defense peptides, particularly those with amphipathic helical structures, are emerging as target molecules for therapeutic development due to their immunomodulatory properties. Although the antimicrobial activity of AMPs is known to be exerted primarily by permeation of the bacterial membrane, the mechanism underlying its anti-inflammatory activity remains to be elucidated. We report potent anti-inflammatory activity of WALK11.3, an antimicrobial model peptide with an amphipathic helical conformation, in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. This peptide inhibited the expression of inflammatory mediators, including nitric oxide, COX-2, IL-1ß, IL-6, INF-ß, and TNF-α. Although WALK11.3 did not exert a major effect on all downstream signaling in the MyD88-dependent pathway, toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)- mediated pro-inflammatory signals were markedly attenuated in the TRIF-dependent pathway due to inhibition of the phosphorylation of STAT1 by attenuation of IRF3 phosphorylation. WALK11.3 specifically inhibited the endocytosis of TLR4, which is essential for triggering TRIF-mediated signaling in macrophage cells. Hence, we suggest that specific interference with TLR4 endocytosis could be one of the major modes of the anti-inflammatory action of AMPs. Our designed WALK11 peptides, which possess both antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activities, may be promising molecules for the development of therapies for infectious inflammation.

Anti-inflammatory effect of Impatiens textori Miq. extract via inhibition of NLRP3 inflammasome activation in in vitro and in vivo experimental models.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Impatiens textori Miq. (I. textori, Balsaminaceae) is a traditional medicinal herb used for centuries to treat several inflammatory related skin infections and allergic disorders in Asian countries. AIM OF THE STUDY: In this study, we elucidated the effects of whole plant extracts of I. textori on inflammasome activation using in vitro and in vivo models. MATERIALS AND METHODS: LPS-stimulated murine bone marrow macrophages were used to study the regulatory effect of I. textori extract (IT) on inflammasome activation. ATP, nigericin and MSU were used as danger-associated molecules to activate the NLRP3 inflammasome. An LPS-induced acute lung injury (ALI) mouse model was used to study the in vivo effect of IT on inflammasome activation. RESULTS: IT treated at 25, 50, and 100µg/mL concentrations suppressed interleukin-1ß secretion through the attenuation of NLRP3 inflammasome activation (p<0.001 at 100µg/mL) leading to the decreased amount of ASC oligomerization and caspase-1 maturation. For the in vivo model, IT inhibited the NLRP3 expression and cell recruitment at the lung tissue in the ALI mouse model. CONCLUSION: IT exhibited potent anti-inflammatory effects via the attenuation of NLRP3 inflammasome activation supporting the traditional claims and may provide a valuable therapeutic strategy in treating various inflammation-related disorders.

Anti-inflammatory effect of emodin via attenuation of NLRP3 inflammasome activation.

Emodin, an active constituent of oriental herbs, is widely used to treat allergy, inflammation, and other symptoms. This study provides the scientific basis for the anti-inflammasome effects of emodin on both in vitro and in vivo experimental models. Bone marrow-derived macrophages were used to study the effects of emodin on inflammasome activation by using inflammasome inducers such as ATP, nigericin, and silica crystals. The lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced endotoxin shock model was employed to study the effect of emodin on in vivo efficacy. Emodin treatment attenuated interleukin (IL)-1ß secretion via the inhibition of NOD-like receptor family, pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome activation induced by ATP, nigericin, and silica crystals. Further, emodin ameliorated the severity of NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated symptoms in LPS-induced endotoxin mouse models. This study is the first to reveal mechanism-based evidence, especially with respect to regulation of inflammasome activation, substantiating traditional claims of emodin in the treatment of inflammation-related disorders.

A multiplex polymerase chain reaction for a differential diagnosis of Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax.

A multiplex PCR was designed for the differential diagnosis of the two parasite species by targeting the 18S rRNA gene with a set of primer combinations, amplifying DNA fragments of 1451-bp and 833-bp for P. falciparum and P. vivax, respectively. The sensitivity of this PCR test was high, as minimal as 0.1 parasite per one microliter of blood sample and a minimum of four copies of the target gene could be detected. For the diagnosis of mixed infection of two Plasmodium spp., there were no apparent competition or cross-reaction between the majority and minority Plasmodium species. The multiplex PCR was evaluated on 210 clinical samples and 60 normal controls. The PCR test yielded highly concordant results with microscopic examination, with the only one exception of a mixed (P. falciparum plus P. vivax) infection case, which was diagnosed as a single infection of P. falciparum by microscopy. We propose that the multiplex PCR is a sensitive, specific, and rapid tool that can serve as a useful differential diagnostic tool for detecting P. falciparum and P. vivax.