Effect of myrrh oil on IL-1beta stimulation of NF-kappaB activation and PGE(2) production in human gingival fibroblasts and epithelial cells

Tipton DA, Hamman NR, Dabbous MKh
Toxicology in Vitro, 2006


ABSTRACT:

Anecdotal and scientific evidence suggest that myrrh oil (MO) has anti-inflammatory properties. Subtoxic MO levels decrease interleukin (IL)-1beta-stimulated production of the inflammatory cytokine IL-6 by human gingival fibroblasts, but not epithelial cells. IL-1beta upregulates IL-6 via PGE(2), and via NF-kappaB, a transcription factor for many inflammatory mediator genes. NF-kappaB is inhibited by sesquiterpene compounds (from plants other than myrrh). This study determined MO effect on IL-1beta-stimulated PGE(2) production and NF-kappaB activation in gingival fibroblasts and epithelial cells. Cells were preincubated with MO, exposed to IL-1beta, cytoplasmic and nuclear fractions were isolated, and activated NF-kappaB was measured using an ELISA-based assay. IL-1beta increased nuclear activated NF-kappaB levels in fibroblasts and epithelial cells [10- and 2.5-fold over controls, respectively (p=0.0001)], and these increases were not significantly affected by MO. PGE(2) was measured in cell supernatants by ELISA, after preincubation with MO and exposure to IL-1beta. MO inhibited IL-1beta-stimulated PGE(2) production by fibroblasts (p=0.001), but not epithelial cells. The data suggest that gingival epithelial cells and fibroblasts may differ in the magnitude of NF-kappaB activation after IL-1beta stimulation, and that MO inhibition of IL-1beta-stimulated IL-6 production in fibroblasts is due in part to inhibition of PGE(2), but not NF-kappaB activation.

CITATION:

Tipton DA, Hamman NR, Dabbous MKh. Effect of myrrh oil on IL-1beta stimulation of NF-kappaB activation and PGE(2) production in human gingival fibroblasts and epithelial cells. Toxicol In Vitro. 2006 Mar;20(2):248-55.


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