Biomaterial Database

Betulin inhibits pro-inflammatory cytokines expression through activation STAT3 signaling pathway in human cardiac cells. 2015

S-Y Zhang, and Q-F Zhao, and N-N Fang, and J-G Yu

Department of Anesthesiology, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, P.R. China. yjingui1323@126.com

OBJECTIVE Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) is an important regulator of cardiac survival pathways. Decreased expression or activity of STAT3 in patients with end-stage heart failure demonstrated a clinical relevance of STAT3 in cardiac diseases. Betulin, a pentacyclic triterpene, has drawn extensive attention towards its beneficial effects. However, little is known about its roles in cardiac cells. METHODS We investigated the effects of betulin on the pro-inflammatory processes in human cardiac AC16 cells. Genes expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and activation of NF-κB signaling were analyzed. Besides, levels of phosphorylated STAT3 and its down-stream target genes were measured to evaluate the activation of STAT3. Finally, STAT3 inhibitor and small interfering RNA (siRNA) oligos were used to determine the roles of STAT3 in AC16 cells treated with betulin. RESULTS Our results revealed that betulin inhibited pro-inflammatory cytokines expression and NF-κB signaling activation through STAT3 signaling. Besides, betulin treatment also induced the expression of Bcl-xL, an anti-apoptotic downstream effector of STAT3. CONCLUSIONS Our results, for the first time, uncovered the cardioprotective roles of betulin, which may be useful to reduce the occurrence of adverse cardiovascular events.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D002460	Cell Line	Established cell cultures that have the potential to propagate indefinitely.	Cell Lines,Line, Cell,Lines, Cell
D005786	Gene Expression Regulation	Any of the processes by which nuclear, cytoplasmic, or intercellular factors influence the differential control (induction or repression) of gene action at the level of transcription or translation.	Gene Action Regulation,Regulation of Gene Expression,Expression Regulation, Gene,Regulation, Gene Action,Regulation, Gene Expression
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D014315	Triterpenes	A class of terpenes (the general formula C30H48) formed by the condensation of six isoprene units, equivalent to three terpene units.	Triterpene,Triterpenoid,Triterpenoids
D015398	Signal Transduction	The intracellular transfer of information (biological activation/inhibition) through a signal pathway. In each signal transduction system, an activation/inhibition signal from a biologically active molecule (hormone, neurotransmitter) is mediated via the coupling of a receptor/enzyme to a second messenger system or to an ion channel. Signal transduction plays an important role in activating cellular functions, cell differentiation, and cell proliferation. Examples of signal transduction systems are the GAMMA-AMINOBUTYRIC ACID-postsynaptic receptor-calcium ion channel system, the receptor-mediated T-cell activation pathway, and the receptor-mediated activation of phospholipases. Those coupled to membrane depolarization or intracellular release of calcium include the receptor-mediated activation of cytotoxic functions in granulocytes and the synaptic potentiation of protein kinase activation. Some signal transduction pathways may be part of larger signal transduction pathways; for example, protein kinase activation is part of the platelet activation signal pathway.	Cell Signaling,Receptor-Mediated Signal Transduction,Signal Pathways,Receptor Mediated Signal Transduction,Signal Transduction Pathways,Signal Transduction Systems,Pathway, Signal,Pathway, Signal Transduction,Pathways, Signal,Pathways, Signal Transduction,Receptor-Mediated Signal Transductions,Signal Pathway,Signal Transduction Pathway,Signal Transduction System,Signal Transduction, Receptor-Mediated,Signal Transductions,Signal Transductions, Receptor-Mediated,System, Signal Transduction,Systems, Signal Transduction,Transduction, Signal,Transductions, Signal
D016207	Cytokines	Non-antibody proteins secreted by inflammatory leukocytes and some non-leukocytic cells, that act as intercellular mediators. They differ from classical hormones in that they are produced by a number of tissue or cell types rather than by specialized glands. They generally act locally in a paracrine or autocrine rather than endocrine manner.	Cytokine
D016328	NF-kappa B	Ubiquitous, inducible, nuclear transcriptional activator that binds to enhancer elements in many different cell types and is activated by pathogenic stimuli. The NF-kappa B complex is a heterodimer composed of two DNA-binding subunits: NF-kappa B1 and relA.	Immunoglobulin Enhancer-Binding Protein,NF-kappa B Complex,Nuclear Factor kappa B,Transcription Factor NF-kB,kappa B Enhancer Binding Protein,Ig-EBP-1,NF-kB,NF-kappaB,Nuclear Factor-Kappab,Complex, NF-kappa B,Enhancer-Binding Protein, Immunoglobulin,Factor NF-kB, Transcription,Factor-Kappab, Nuclear,Ig EBP 1,Immunoglobulin Enhancer Binding Protein,NF kB,NF kappa B Complex,NF kappaB,NF-kB, Transcription Factor,Nuclear Factor Kappab,Transcription Factor NF kB
D050796	STAT3 Transcription Factor	A signal transducer and activator of transcription that mediates cellular responses to INTERLEUKIN-6 family members. STAT3 is constitutively activated in a variety of TUMORS and is a major downstream transducer for the CYTOKINE RECEPTOR GP130.	APRF Transcription Factor,Acute-Phase Response Factor,IL6-Response Factor,LIF-Response Factor,STAT3 Protein,STAT3a Transcription Factor,STAT3b Transcription Factor,Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 3,Stat3alpha Transcription Factor,Stat3beta Transcription Factor,Acute Phase Response Factor,IL6 Response Factor,LIF Response Factor,Response Factor, Acute-Phase,Transcription Factor, APRF,Transcription Factor, STAT3,Transcription Factor, STAT3a,Transcription Factor, STAT3b,Transcription Factor, Stat3alpha,Transcription Factor, Stat3beta
D018836	Inflammation Mediators	The endogenous compounds that mediate inflammation (AUTACOIDS) and related exogenous compounds including the synthetic prostaglandins (PROSTAGLANDINS, SYNTHETIC).	Mediators of Inflammation,Mediators, Inflammation
D032383	Myocytes, Cardiac	Striated muscle cells found in the heart. They are derived from cardiac myoblasts (MYOBLASTS, CARDIAC).	Cardiomyocytes,Muscle Cells, Cardiac,Muscle Cells, Heart,Cardiac Muscle Cell,Cardiac Muscle Cells,Cardiac Myocyte,Cardiac Myocytes,Cardiomyocyte,Cell, Cardiac Muscle,Cell, Heart Muscle,Cells, Cardiac Muscle,Cells, Heart Muscle,Heart Muscle Cell,Heart Muscle Cells,Muscle Cell, Cardiac,Muscle Cell, Heart,Myocyte, Cardiac