Effect of Berberine on Interleukin 8 and Monocyte Chemotactic Protein 1 Expression in a Human Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cell Line

Abstract

Purpose: The aims of this study were to examine the effects of berberine, an alkaloid isolated from some medicinal herbs, on interleukin 8 (IL-8) and monocyte chemotactic protein 1 (MCP-1) expression in a human retinal pigment epithelial cell line (ARPE-19) stimulated with interleukin 1β (IL-1β) or tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α). Methods: ARPE-19 cells were cultured to confluence. Berberine and IL-1β or TNF-α were added to the medium. IL-8 mRNA and MCP-1 mRNA were measured by semiquantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction and real-time polymerase chain reaction. IL-8 and MCP-1 protein concentrations in the media were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: Berberine dose-dependently inhibited IL-8 mRNA and MCP-1 mRNA expression of the cells and protein levels in the media stimulated with IL-1β or TNF-α. Conclusion: These findings indicate that berberine dose-dependently inhibited the expression of IL-8 and MCP-1 induced by IL-1β or TNF-α.

Effect of Berberine on Monocyte Chemotactic Protein-1 and Cytokine-Induced Neutrophil Chemoattractant-1 Expression in Rat Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Uveitis

“…Increased levels of protein and cells in the aqueous humor induced by LPS in the present study may be mediated in part by the chemokines, as stated by Mo et al [4] . We previously reported that berberine inhibited the in vitro expression of IL-8 and MCP-1 induced by IL-1 ␤ or TNF-␣ in a human retinal pigment epithelial cell line [21] . In the present study, we found that the alkaloid inhibited the in vivo expression of CINC-1 and MCP-1 induced by LPS, decreasing the inflammatory cell infiltration and the levels of protein and cells in the aqueous humor in rats.…”

“…On histopathologic study, the inflam- [18,19] and cholesterol-lowering effect [20] . We previously reported that berberine dose-dependently inhibited the in vitro expression of IL-8 and MCP-1 induced by interleukin-1 ␤ (IL-1 ␤ ) or tumor necrosis factor-␣ (TNF-␣ ) in a human retinal pigment epithelial cell line [21] . In the present study, we investigated the in vivo effect of oral administration of berberine on LPS-induced uveitis in rats.…”

TNFα-induced and berberine-antagonized tight junction barrier impairment via tyrosine kinase, Akt and NFκB signaling

“…Recent developments in the therapy of diabetes and hyperlipidemia have brought berberine into the focus of interest (Zhou et al, 2007;Yin et al, 2008a;Kong et al, 2004). Among the plethora of pharmacological actions of berberine that have been described recently, a protective barrier effect in retinal epithelial cells was reported (Cui et al, 2006a;Cui et al, 2006b;Cui et al, 2007). Although its therapeutic benefit in gastrointestinal disease has been attributed in part to antimicrobial and anti-motility actions, berberine has also been shown to prevent ion secretion in vitro in rabbit and rat intestinal models of (Iwasa et al, 1998;Yamamoto et al, 1993;Guandalini et al, 1987;Tai et al, 1981;Taylor and Baird, 1995).…”

Berberine Exerts Neuroprotective Actions against in Vitro Ischemia-Induced Neuronal Cell Damage in Organotypic Hippocampal Slice Cultures: Involvement of B-Cell Lymphoma 2 Phosphorylation Suppression

“…Indeed, ischemic stress comprises several different stresses, including hypoxic stress, oxidative stress, and glutamate stress, and each stress activates the multiple apoptotic pathways. Considering the reported ability of berberine to exhibit a variety of pharmacological and biological activities, such as inhibition of inflammatory cytokines and enzymes, [19][20][21][22][23][24][25] scavenging of free radicals, 47) suppression of L-arginine-NO-cGMP pathway, 31,48) and neurotransmitter receptor functions, 30,42) factors and/or mechanisms are also likely involved in the protective action of berberine. Nevertheless, further studies are required to clarify the exact mechanism of the neuroprotective effect of berberine on ischemia-induced brain damage.…”

“…cortex; these plants are included in several Kampo formulae (traditional Chinese-Korean-Japanese medicine), such as orengedokuto (Huang-Lian-Jie-Du-Tang), and have been used to treat various inflammatory diseases. This alkaloid has multiple pharmacological actions, including anti-inflammatory effects, [19][20][21][22][23][24][25] antipyretic action, 23) diarrhea-treating action, 26) glucose-lowering potential, 27,28) cholesterol-lowering effect, 29) antidepressant action 30,31) and Alzheimer's disease-amelioration effect. 32,33) Moreover, a previous report 34) from this laboratory demonstrated that orengedokuto exhibited a protective effect on transient cere- bral ischemia-induced impairment of learning and memory in mice.…”