Saturday, January 05, 2008

Study Explains Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Propolis Component

Differential Regulation of c-jun N-Terminal Kinase and NF-kappaB Pathway by Caffeic Acid Phenethyl Ester in Astroglial and Monocytic Cells
Journal of Neurochemistry, Online Accepted Articles

Caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE), an active component of propolis extracts, has been known for its specific inhibition of nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB) and subsequent anti-inflammatory activity.

In this study, we report that (1) CAPE exerts its anti-inflammatory action (inhibition of tumor necrosis factor-induced expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and CC chemokine ligand-2) via NF-kappaB inhibition by two distinct molecular mechanisms in a cell-specific manner: CAPE inhibited downstream pathways of inhibitor kappaB (IkappaB) degradation in monocytic cells, while activation of upstream IkappaB kinase was suppressed by CAPE pretreatment in astroglial cells; and (2) CAPE paradoxically activates the c-jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) pathway, which might be responsible for its pro-apoptotic action and divergent regulation of proinflammatory mediators such as CXC chemokine ligand-8.

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