Vomifoliol isolated from mangrove plant Ceriops tagal inhibits the NFAT signaling pathway with CN as the target enzyme in vitro

Bioorg Med Chem Lett. 2021 Sep 15:48:128235. doi: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2021.128235. Epub 2021 Jun 30.

Abstract

Vomifoliol, a natural sesquiterpene compound, is a secondary metabolite isolated from the mangrove plant Ceriops tagal. The present study aimed to determine the immunosuppressive effects and underlying mechanisms of vomifoliol on Jurkat cells in vitro. The results show that vomifoliol significantly inhibited calcineurin (CN) at concentrations resulting in relatively low cytotoxicity. Moreover, vomifoliol was found to exert an inhibitory effect on phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)/ ionomycin (Io) -induced Jurkat cells and the dephosphorylation of NFAT1. In addition, it reduced the expression of IL-2. Based on these results, we concluded that vomifoliol may inhibit the immune response of Jurkat cells, and vomifoliol may use CN as the target enzyme to inhibit NFAT signaling pathway. Therefore, vomifoliol may be promising as a low-toxic natural immunosuppressant.

Keywords: Calcineurin; Ceriops tagal; IL-2; Immunosuppressive activity; NFAT1; Vomifoliol.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Butanols / chemistry
  • Butanols / isolation & purification
  • Butanols / pharmacology*
  • Cyclohexanones / chemistry
  • Cyclohexanones / isolation & purification
  • Cyclohexanones / pharmacology*
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Humans
  • Jurkat Cells
  • Molecular Structure
  • NFATC Transcription Factors / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • NFATC Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • Rhizophoraceae / chemistry*
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Structure-Activity Relationship

Substances

  • Butanols
  • Cyclohexanones
  • NFATC Transcription Factors
  • NFATC2 protein, human
  • vomifoliol