Mechanism of altered TNF-α expression by macrophage and the modulatory effect of Panax notoginseng saponins in scald mice

Aim: To explore the mechanism of altered tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) expression by peritoneal macrophages (PM Phi) and Panax notoginseng saponins (PNS) modulation in light of NF-kappa B signal transduction in severely scalded mice. Methods: Eighteen percent total body surface area (TBSA) full-thickness scalded mice were used. PM Phi was collected at different time intervals (0, 2, 6, 12, 24 and 48 post-burn hour (PBH)) separately. The following parameters were measured: TNF-alpha mRNA and IL-10 mRNA expression (reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, RT-PCR), protein kinase C (PKC) activity (isotope incorporation analysis), NF-kappa B activity (electrophoretic mobility shift assay, EMSA), I kappa B-alpha expression (Western blot). Results: After scald, increased expression of TNF-alpha mRNA of PM Phi peaked at 12 PBH. Meanwhile, expression of IL-10 mRNA dropped to the lowest level at 12 PBH. NF-kappa B activity was markedly activated and reached its peak at 2 PBH. Membrane PKC activity was up-regulated after scald and showed a positive correlation with the change of TNF-alpha mRNA. Expression of I kappa B-alpha first decreased at 2 PBH and then increased to high level at 24 PBH. When 12 PBH was chosen as the time point for in vitro intervention with the application of specific NF-kappa B inhibitor pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC), PKC inhibitor H-7 and PNS, both TNF-alpha mRNA expression and NF-kappa B activity decreased significantly. Conclusions: These results indicate that abnormal expression of TNF-alpha mRNA of macrophages might be regulated by PKC-NF-kappa B signaling following severe burn. PNS might play an anti-inflammatory effect by inhibiting NF-kappa B activity and TNF-alpha mRNA expression. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd and ISBI. All rights reserved.