Inhibitory effect of ferulic acid on macrophage inflammatory protein-2 production in a murine macrophage cell line, RAW264.7

We investigated time-related productions of certain cytokines in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 cells, a murine macrophage cell line, by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, Macrophage inflammatory protein-2 (MIP-2) levels became detectable after 2 h and markedly increased over the first 8 h, Thereafter, this level remained at the same level between 10 and 16 h, and then increased again until 24 h, showing a tendency of biphasic pattern, Tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha was detectable at 2 h and then increased sharply until 6 h at,which it attained its peak, A low but recognizable level of interleukin (IL)-1 alpha/beta was also detectable, When the inhibitory effect of ferulic acid (FA), an active component of the Rhizoma of Cimicifuga sp, used frequently as anti-inflammatory drug in Japanese Oriental medicines, was compared with that of dexamethasone (DX) on MIP-2 and TNF-alpha productions in response to LPS, both FA and DX could reduce the production of these cytokines in a dose-dependent manner, Concerning TNF-alpha, however, the inhibitory effect of FA was very,weak compared with that of DX, In addition, FA as well as DX reduced MIP-2 production induced by TNF-alpha, These data suggest that MIP-2 might be induced by a direct effect of LPS and in part indirect one via initial induction of other cytokines such as TNF-alpha, leading a tendency of biphasic pattern, Comparing DX, FA is considered to be a novel and unique drug inhibiting MIP-2 production more selectively. (C) 1997 Academic Press Limited.