A natural compound C23 H32 O4 Cl, ascochlorin (ASC) isolated from an incomplete fungus, Ascochyta viciae has been known to have several biological activities as an antibiotic, antifungal, anti-cancer, anti-hypolipidemic, and anti-hypertension agent. In this study, anti-inflammatory activity has been investigated in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced murine macrophage RAW 264.7 cells, since ASC has not been observed on the inflammatory events. The present study has clearly shown that ASC (1-50 μM) significantly suppressed the production of nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2 ) and decreased the gene expression of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, ASC inhibited the mRNA expression and the protein secretion of interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-6 but not tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophage cells. In addition, ASC suppressed nuclear translocation and DNA binding affinity of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB). Furthermore, ASC down-regulated phospho-extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (p-ERK1/2) and p-p38. These results demonstrate that ASC exhibits anti-inflammatory effects in RAW 264.7 macrophage cells.

No abstract

For innate immune defense, lower animals such as fish and amphibian are covered with skin mucus, which acts as both a mechanical and biochemical barrier. Although several mucus sources have been isolated and studied for their biochemical and immunological functions, the precise mechanism(s) of action remains unknown. In the present study, we additionally found the eel skin mucus (ESM) to be a promising candidate for use in anti-tumor therapy. Our results showed that the viability of K562 cells was decreased in a dose-dependent manner by treatment with the isolated ESM. The cleaved forms of caspase-9, caspase-3 and poly adenosine diphosphate-ribose polymerase were increased by ESM. The levels of Bax expression and released cytochrome C were also increased after treatment with ESM. Furthermore, during the ESM mediated-apoptosis, phosphorylation levels of ERK1/2 and p38 but not JNK were increased and cell viabilities of the co-treated cells with ESM and inhibitors of ERK 1/2 or p38 were also increased. In addition, treatment with lactose rescued the ESM-mediated decrease in cell viability, indicating lactose-containing glycans in the leukemia cells acted as a counterpart of the ESM for interaction. Taken together, these results suggest that ESM could induce mitochondria-mediated apoptosis through membrane interaction of the K562 human leukemia cells. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first observation that ESM has anti-tumor activity in human cells.