Inhibition of inflammatory factors by parthenolide in human renal mesangial cells under hyperglycemic condition

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of parthenolide (PTN) in human renal mesangial cells (HRMCs) under high ambient glucose conditions. First we determined the noncytotoxic
concentration of PTN in HRMCs by performing the MTS assay. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent (ELISA) analysis was performed to determine the expressions of interleukin (IL)-1, IL-18, tumornecrosis factor (TNF)-, transforming growth factor (TGF)-1, monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)- 1, macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-1, RANTES and prostaglandin (PG)E2. The total nitric oxide (NO) was determined by performing the Griess reaction. Treatment with less than 50 mol/L PTN
concentration did not affect the viability of HRMCs, while more than 100 ìmol/L concentrations markedly altered the cell viability. In the present study, treatment with 50 mmol/L glucose markedly increased the level of IL-1, IL-18, TNF-, TGF-1, MCP-1, MIP-1, RANTES, PGE2 and NO. PTN
remarkably abolished the increase in the level of these molecules in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, treatment with PTN concentration of 20 ìmol/L almost completely reversed IL-1 and TNF- expression, and treatment with 50 ìmol/L reversed the expression of RANTES. In conclusion, parthenolide can inhibit the high-glucose-induced expression of inflammatory cytokines in HRMCs. Hence, PTN may be considered a promising drug with potent anti-inflammatory effect in addition to its
strong anticancer, anti-angiogenesis, and antineurodegenerative effects.