Betulinic acid inhibits endotoxin-stimulated phosphorylation cascade and pro-inflammatory prostaglandin E2 production in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells

摘要

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSEBetulinic acid (BA) is a naturally occurring triterpenoid widely distributed throughout the plant kingdom. We previously reported that BA inhibits lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced interleukin-6 production through modulation of nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (hPBMCs). This study attempted to identify other mechanisms through which BA modulates LPS signalling in mononuclear cells. The effects of BA on signalling pathways downstream were focused on in this study.