An estrogen receptor dependent mechanism of Oroxylin A in the repression of inflammatory response

PLoS One. 2013 Jul 29;8(7):e69555. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0069555. Print 2013.

Abstract

Oroxylin A, a natural flavonoid, is one of the main bioactive compounds that underlie the anti-inflammatory effect of the medicinal herb Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi widely used in southeastern Asia; however, the molecular mechanisms for the therapeutic benefits remain largely unclear. In this study, we found that Oroxylin A induces estrogen-responsive gene expression and promoter activity. In macrophages, Oroxylin A treatment significantly attenuates lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced but not basal inflammatory response, including nitric oxide (NO) production and the expression of inflammatory mediators (i.e., iNOS and COX-2) and cytokines (i.e., TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6), in an estrogen receptor (ER)-dependent manner. Oroxylin A treatment also dramatically decreases LPS-induced secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Furthermore, the downregulation of all these inflammatory parameters by Oroxylin A was abolished when cells were pretreated with specific ER antagonist. Thus, Oroxylin A is a novel phytoestrogen and exhibits anti-inflammatory effects that are mediated by ER activity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Estrogen Receptor alpha / metabolism*
  • Estrogen Receptor beta / metabolism*
  • Flavonoids / pharmacology*
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Inflammation / metabolism*
  • Macrophages / drug effects
  • Macrophages / immunology
  • Macrophages / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Nitric Oxide / metabolism
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

Substances

  • Estrogen Receptor alpha
  • Estrogen Receptor beta
  • Flavonoids
  • Nitric Oxide
  • 5,7-dihydroxy-6-methoxy-2-phenylchromen-4-one

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (81173592, 81125024), Tianjin Applied Basic Research and Frontier Technological Program (11JCZDJC21100), and the Program for Changjiang Scholars and Innovative Research Team in University, PCSIRT (IRT0973,IRT1276). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.