Effect of lignins and their precursors on nitric oxide, citrulline and asparagine production by mouse macrophage-like Raw 264.7 cells

Lignins, tannins and flavonoids are commonly found polyphenols. Among these polyphenols, lignins, polymers of phenylpropenoids complexed with polysaccharides, were the least cytotoxic and most potently stimulated the production of nitric oxide (NO), citrulline and asparagine by mouse macrophage-like...

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Published inAnticancer research Vol. 22; no. 5; p. 2719
Main Authors Suzuki, Fumika, Okayasu, Haruo, Tashiro, Miyuki, Hashimoto, Ken, Yokote, Yoshiko, Akahane, Kiso, Hongo, Shigeki, Sakagami, Hiroshi
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Greece 01.09.2002
Subjects
Animals
Asparagine - biosynthesis
Aspartate-Ammonia Ligase - metabolism
Blotting, Western
Caffeic Acids - pharmacology
Caffeic Acids - toxicity
Catechin - analogs & derivatives
Catechin - pharmacology
Catechin - toxicity
Citrulline - biosynthesis
Coumaric Acids - pharmacology
Coumaric Acids - toxicity
Gallic Acid - pharmacology
Gallic Acid - toxicity
Lignin - pharmacology
Lignin - toxicity
Macrophages - drug effects
Macrophages - enzymology
Macrophages - metabolism
Mice
Nitric Oxide - biosynthesis
Pinus - chemistry
Stimulation, Chemical
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Summary:Lignins, tannins and flavonoids are commonly found polyphenols. Among these polyphenols, lignins, polymers of phenylpropenoids complexed with polysaccharides, were the least cytotoxic and most potently stimulated the production of nitric oxide (NO), citrulline and asparagine by mouse macrophage-like Raw 264.7 cells. The maximum production of these substances reached the level attained by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). However, epigallocatechin gallate, phenylpropenoid monomers (ferulic acid, caffeic acid) and gallic acid (component unit of tannin) were inactive. These data suggest that the macrophage-stimulation activity of polyphenols depends, at least in part, on their molecular weight or structural configuration. There was a positive relationship between the extent of asparagine production and that of NO or citrulline. Western blot analysis demonstrated that both lignins and LPS elevated the cellular level of asparagine synthetase. The present study suggests the possible link between the stimulated asparagine production and macrophage activation.
ISSN:0250-7005