Guggulsterone, a plant sterol, inhibits NF-kappaB activation and protects pancreatic beta cells from cytokine toxicity.

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Lv N, Song MY, Kim EK, Park JW, Kwon KB, Park BH

Guggulsterone, a plant sterol, inhibits NF-kappaB activation and protects pancreatic beta cells from cytokine toxicity.

Mol Cell Endocrinol. 2008 Jul 16;289(1-2):49-59. doi: 10.1016/j.mce.2008.02.001. Epub 2008 Feb 9.

PubMed ID
18343024 [ View in PubMed
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Abstract

Guggulsterone has been used to treat hyperlipidemia, arthritis, and obesity. Although its anti-inflammatory and anti-hyperlipidemic effects have been well documented, the effect of guggulsterone on pancreatic beta cells is unknown. Therefore, in this study, the effect of guggulsterone on IL-1beta- and IFN-gamma-induced beta-cell damage was investigated. Treatment of RINm5F (RIN) rat insulinoma cells with IL-1beta and IFN-gamma induced cell damage, and this damage was well correlated with nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production. However, guggulsterone completely prevented cytokines-mediated cytotoxicity, as well as NO and PGE2 production, and these effects were correlated with reduced levels of the inducible form of NO synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) mRNA and protein expressions. The molecular mechanism by which guggulsterone inhibits iNOS and COX-2 gene expressions appeared to involve the inhibition of NF-kappaB activation. The cytoprotective effects of guggulsterone were also mediated through the suppression of the JAK/STAT pathway. Cells treated with the cytokines downregulated the protein level of SOCS-3, however pretreatment with guggulsterone attenuated this decrease. Additionally, in a second set of experiments in which rat islets were used, the findings regarding the beta-cell protective effects of guggulsterone were essentially the same as those observed when RIN cells were used; guggulsterone prevented cytokines-induced NO and PGE2 production, iNOS and COX-2 expressions, JAK/STAT activation, NF-kappaB activation, downregulation of SOCS-3, and impairment of glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. Collectively, these results suggest that guggulsterone may be used to preserve functional beta-cell mass.

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