Activation of transcription factor NF-U UB is elevated in several chronic inflammatory diseases and is responsible for the enhanced expression of many proinflammatory gene products. Extracts from leaves of stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) are used as antiinflammatory remedies in rheumatoid arthritis. Standardized preparations of these extracts (IDS23) suppress cytokine production, but their mode of action remains unclear.Here we demonstrate that treatment of different cells with IDS23 potently inhibits NF-U UB activation. An inhibitory effect was observed in response to several stimuli, suggesting that IDS23 suppressed a common NF-U UB pathway. Inhibition of NF-U UB activation by IDS23 was not mediated by a direct modification of DNA binding, but rather by preventing degradation of its inhibitory subunit IU UB-K K. Our results suggests that part of the antiinflammatory effect of Urtica extract may be ascribed to its inhibitory effect on NF-U UB activation.z 1999 Federation of European Biochemical Societies.
These findings indicate that histone H1.2 is a potential candidate for use as a local and, because of its low haemolytic activity, systemic antimicrobial agent. However, further investigations are needed to specify the cytotoxicity and the dose-response relationship for histone H1.2.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.