Acta Pharmacologica Sinica (2009) 30: 1428–1435; doi: 10.1038/aps.2009.138

Aim: To elucidate the anti-inflammatory potentials and underlying mechanisms of SM905, a novel artemisinin derivative,  in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated murine macrophage RAW 264.7 cells.

Methods: Nitric oxide (NO) generation, cytokine production, and the protein expression levels of inducible nitric-oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) were examined using a Griess assay, an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and a Western blotting assay, respectively.  The mRNA expression was measured using real-time PCR.  The phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase1/2 (ERK1/2), p38, c-jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), and the degradation of IκBα were assessed by Western blotting analysis.  The nuclear translocation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) was observed using confocal microscopy. 

Results: Pretreatment with SM905 (0, 0.1, 1, and 10 μmol/L) suppressed LPS-induced NO, TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 production, and decreased both protein and mRNA levels of iNOS and COX-2.  The mRNA expression of LPS receptor Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and myeloid differentiation protein-2 (MD-2) was not changed, while LPS-induced CD14 expression was slightly reduced after SM905 treatment.  SM905 markedly decreased the activation of ERK1/2, p38 and JNK suppressed the degradation of IκBα, but did not modify the expression of interferon regulatory factor-1 (IRF-1), signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1) or interferon-inducible protein-10 (IP-10).  By using confocal microscopy, we further observed that NF-κB was correspondingly inhibited in SM905-treated cells.

Conclusion: SM905 inhibited NO and pro-inflammatory cytokine production in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells and these effects are at least partially mediated through suppression of the MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathways.

Keywords: artemisinin; SM905; NO; iNOS; inflammation; MAPK; NF-κB; cyclooxygenase 2; TLR4 receptor