Anti-Inflammatory Effect of Resveratrol by Inhibition of IL-8 Production in LPS-Induced THP-1 Cells

Resveratrol is a polyphenol compound and prominent anti-inflammatory agent found in plants, including the fruits of Morus alba. However, the therapeutic mechanisms of resveratrol remain largely unclear. To gain insight into the biological effects of resveratrol, we examined its influence on LPS-induced IL-8 production in the human monocytic cell line, THP-1. In inflammatory diseases, IL-8 plays a central role in the initiation and maintenance of inflammatory response. In the present study, IL-8 production was measured by ELISA and RT-PCR, while MAPK activation, I kappa B alpha degradation, nuclear factor (NF)-kappa B activation and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 expression were determined by Western blot analysis. Resveratrol inhibited LPS-induced IL-8 production in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, resveratrol inhibited extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and p38 MAPK phosphorylation, I kappa B alpha degradation, NF-kappa B activation and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 expression, which suggest that resveratrol inhibits IL-8 secretion by blocking MAPK phosphorylation and NF-kappa B activation. Taken together, these findings may help elucidate the mechanism by which resveratrol modulates THP-1 cell activation under inflammatory conditions.