Triptolide Inhibits Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase Expression Induced by Toll-like Receptor Agonists

摘要

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) play an important role in the induction of innate immune responses recognizing many pathogen-associated molecular patterns. The activation of TLRs triggers two downstream signaling pathways; MyD88- (myeloid differential factor 88) and TRIF- (toll-interleukin-1 receptor domain-containing adapter inducing interferon-p) dependent pathways leading to the induction of pro-inflammatory gene products such as inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). The present study investigated the effect of triptolide (TP), a natural component of Tripterygium wilfordii Hook. F, on inflammation by modulating iNOS expression induced by TLR agonists in murine macrophages. TP suppressed iNOS expression induced by lipopolysaccharide (TLR4 agonist), polyri-boinosinic polyribocytidylic acid (TLR3 agonist), and macrophage-activating lipopeptide 2-kDa (TLR2 and TLR6 agonist). All the results suggest that TP can modulate TLR signaling pathways and subsequent chronic inflammatory responses.