Journal
CANADIAN JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY AND PHARMACOLOGY
Volume 88, Issue 3, Pages 369-378Publisher
CANADIAN SCIENCE PUBLISHING, NRC RESEARCH PRESS
DOI: 10.1139/Y09-136
Keywords
oxidative stress; berberine; NADPH oxidase; macrophage
Categories
Funding
- Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada
- St. Boniface Hospital & Research Foundation
Ask authors/readers for more resources
Oxidative stress and amplified redox signaling contribute to the pathogenesis of many human diseases including atherosclerosis. The superoxide-generating phagocytic NADPH oxidase is a key source of oxidative stress in the developing atheroma. The aim of the present study was to examine the effect of berberine, a plant-derived alkaloid, on NADPH oxidase-mediated superoxide anion production in macrophages. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) treatment activated NADPH oxidase in THP-1 monocyte-derived macrophages and increased the intracellular level of superoxide anions. Preincubation of cells with berberine demonstrated a concentration-dependent (10-50 mmol/L) and time-dependent (6-24 h) inhibition of superoxide anion generation in LPS-stimulated macrophages. Cell viability tests confirmed that berberine, at concentrations sufficient for inhibiting NADPH oxidase-mediated superoxide anion generation in macrophages, did not affect cell viability. Real-time PCR analysis revealed that addition of berberine to the culture medium was able to reduce gp91p(phox) mRNA expression in LPS-treated cells. Berberine also restored superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, which was found to be inhibited by LPS treatment. In conclusion, results from the present study demonstrate that berberine can effectively reduce intracellular superoxide levels in LPS-stimulated macrophages. Such a restoration of cellular redox by berberine is mediated by its selective inhibition of gp91(phox) expression and enhancement of SOD activity. The therapeutic relevance of berberine in the prevention and management of atherosclerosis remains to be further investigated.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available