naphthoquinones and Atrophy

Extracts from plants containing plumbagin (PLB) continue to be used as a treatment of a number of chronic immunologically-based diseases. However, most of these claims are supported only by anecdotal evidence with few scientific reports describing the mechanism of action or the efficacy of plumbagin in the suppression of the immune response. In the current study, we tested the hypothesis that plumbagin-induced suppression of the immune response was mediated through the induction of apoptosis. Splenocytes from C57BL/6 mice cultured in the presence of 0.5 microM or greater concentrations of PLB significantly reduced proliferative responses to mitogens, including anti-CD3 mAbs, concanavalin A (Con A), lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) in vitro. Exposure of naïve and activated splenocytes to PLB led to a significant increase in the levels of apoptosis. In addition, PLB treatment led to a significant increase in the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in naïve and activated splenocytes. Furthermore, treatment with the ROS scavenger, N-acetylcysteine (NAC), prevented PLB-induced apoptosis, suggesting a role of ROS in PLB-induced apoptosis. PLB-induced apoptosis led to ROS-mediated activation of both the extrinsic and intrinsic apoptotic pathways. In addition, plumbagin led to increased expression of Fas. Finally, treatment of mice with PLB (5mg/kg) led to thymic and splenic atrophy as well as a significant suppression of the response to SEB and dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB) in vivo. Together, these results suggest that plumbagin has significant immunosuppressive properties which are mediated by generation of ROS, upregulation of Fas, and the induction of apoptosis.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Animals; Apoptosis; Atrophy; Caspases; Dinitrofluorobenzene; Enterotoxins; Enzyme Activation; Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases; fas Receptor; Female; Immunosuppressive Agents; JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; Lymphocytes; Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Naphthoquinones; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; Reactive Oxygen Species; Spleen; Thymus Gland; Up-Regulation

SQ 26,490, (11 beta, 16 beta)-9-fluoro-1',2',3',4'-tetrahydro-11, 21-dihydroxypregna-1,4-dieno[16,17-b]naphthalene 3,20-dione hydrate (1 : 1), was a moderately potent inhibitor of edema formation in the rat. After extended topical application, SQ 26,490 totally inhibited edema formation without appreciable production of skin atrophy, measured under identical conditions. This atrophy was maintained at a low plateau level of 15-20% at doses beyond those necessary to achieve optimal anti-inflammatory activity. In contrast, the potent corticoids, fluocinolone acetonide and halcinonide, and the moderately potent corticoid, clobetasone butyrate, produced inhibition of edema with a concomitant dose-related atrophy. Hydrocortisone, a weakly potent corticoid, totally inhibited edema and produced at high doses a low atrophy. SQ 26,490 possesses the property for a greater separation of anti-inflammatory and atrophogenic activities than comparative corticoids.

Topics: Administration, Topical; Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Atrophy; Chemical Phenomena; Chemistry; Edema; Glucocorticoids; Male; Naphthoquinones; Rats; Rats, Inbred Strains; Skin Diseases