Inflammation is a physiological response to infection or injury and involves the innate and adaptive immune system. Tanshinone IIA (Tan IIA) is a well-known flavonoid that elicits an important therapeutic effect by inhibiting inflammatory response. In this study, we examined whether Tan IIA exerts anti-inflammatory activity and investigated the possible mechanisms, including Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)-MyD88-nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway and microRNA expression in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW264.7 cells. Tan IIA could attenuate the inflammatory reaction via decreasing cytokine, chemokine, and acute-phase protein production, including GM-CSF, sICAM-1, cxcl-1, MIP-1α, and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), analyzed by Proteome profile array in LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells. Concurrently, the messenger RNA (mRNA) expressions of IL-1β, TNF-α, and COX-2 were also significantly reduced by Tan IIA. Additionally, Tan IIA decreased LPS-induced NF-κB activation and downregulated TLR4 and MyD88 protein expression levels. We also observed reduced microRNA-155, miR-147, miR-184, miR-29b, and miR-34c expression levels, while LPS-induced microRNA-105, miR-145a, miR-194, miR-383, miR-132, and miR-451a expression levels were upregulated using microRNA (miRNA) qPCR array. Our results indicate that Tan IIA could exert an anti-inflammatory effect on LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells by decreasing TLR4-MyD88-NF-κB signaling pathway and regulating a series of cytokine production and miRNA expression.

No abstract

No abstract

Contemporary research suggests that macrophage foam cell and cholesterol efflux defect play pivotal role in atherogenesis. We reported on the heretofore unknown therapeutic effect of Danshensu (DSS) in reducing intracellular cholesterol level and unraveled the mechanism of DSS promotes cholesterol efflux. Oxidized low-density lipoprotein stimulation of Raw264.7 cells into foam cells, which were treated with DSS and co-treated with Simvastatin and Rosiglitazone. PPARγ, ABCA1, ABCG1, SR-BI, CD36, and LXR-α mRNA were quantified by Real-Time PCR. Western blotting was used to determine protein expression of PPARγ, ABCA1 and CD36. Cellular cholesterol handling was studied by measurement of intracellular lipid droplets concentration and cholesterol efflux. DSS significantly reduced scavenger receptor CD36 and its orthologue SR-BI. In addition, DSS stimulated the upregulation of cellular cholesterol exporters ABCA1 and ABCG1 to reduce intracellular lipid accumulation. DSS can reduce lipid deposition in Raw264.7 foam cells by balancing CD36 and ABCA1 protein expression.

An increasing number of diseases are being newly closely associated with inflammation, where microRNAs seem to play a critical role in the whole disease process from initiation to development. MicroRNAs are small non-coding RNAs that govern gene expression and modulation by means of mRNA degradation or translational repression. After several profound research studies, new correlations between microRNA-155 and inflammation-related diseases are strongly emerging. Hence, we review in this paper the possible molecular mechanisms of microRNA-155 in inflammatory disorders. Furthermore, we also consider the feasibility of targeting it as a bright alternative to improve the early diagnose statistics and treatments in those diseases. MicroRNA-155 features a novel breakthrough in fine-tuning inflammatory responses and, thereby, in treating a wide spectrum of diseases with inflammation as a common denominator.