TY - JOUR
TI - Chios mastic gum extract and isolated phytosterol tirucallol exhibit anti-inflammatory activity in human aortic endothelial cells
AU - Loizou, S.
AU - Paraschos, S.
AU - Mitakou, S.
AU - Chrousos, G.P.
AU - Lekakis, I.
AU - Moutsatsou, P.
JO - Experimental Biology and Medicine
PY - 2009
VL - 234
TODO - 5
SP - 553-561
PB - 
SN - 1535-3702, 1535-3699
TODO - 10.3181/0811-RM-338
TODO - antiinflammatory agent;  chios mastic gum;  chios mastic gum extract;  immunoglobulin enhancer binding protein;  intercellular adhesion molecule 1;  phytosterol tirucallol;  plant extract;  plant gum;  synaptotagmin I;  tumor necrosis factor alpha;  unclassified drug;  vascular cell adhesion molecule 1;  immunoglobulin enhancer binding protein;  intercellular adhesion molecule 1;  mastic;  phytosterol;  plant resin;  triterpene;  tumor necrosis factor alpha;  vascular cell adhesion molecule 1, antiinflammatory activity;  aorta;  article;  atherosclerosis;  binding kinetics;  cell adhesion;  cell assay;  cell stimulation;  cell strain U937;  controlled study;  drug potency;  endothelium cell;  enzyme activation;  enzyme linked immunosorbent assay;  heart protection;  human;  human cell;  medicinal plant;  protein binding;  protein expression;  protein phosphorylation;  atherosclerosis;  biosynthesis;  cell motion;  chemistry;  drug effect;  drug screening;  gene expression regulation;  leukocyte;  metabolism;  pathology;  phosphorylation;  pistachio, Pistacia lentiscus, Anti-Inflammatory Agents;  Aorta;  Atherosclerosis;  Cell Adhesion;  Cell Movement;  Drug Evaluation, Preclinical;  Endothelial Cells;  Gene Expression Regulation;  Humans;  Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1;  Leukocytes;  NF-kappa B;  Phosphorylation;  Phytosterols;  Pistacia;  Plant Extracts;  Resins, Plant;  Triterpenes;  Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha;  U937 Cells;  Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1
TODO - Chios mastic gum (CMG) is a white, semitransparent, natural resin that is obtained as a trunk exudate from mastic trees. Triterpenic compounds and phytosterols like tirucallol are among its major components. CMG has been associated with cardiovascular protection, exerting its effect mainly through increasing the antioxidant defense system, and effectively lowering the levels of serum cholesterol in human subjects. However, data on its anti-inflammatory effect on endothelium are scarce. Attachment of leukocytes to the vascular endothelium and the subsequent migration of cells into the vessel wall are early events in atherogenesis, and this process requires the expression of endothelial adhesion molecules. In this study, we examined the effect of CMG neutral extract (25-200 μg/ml) and tirucallol (0.1-100 μM) on the following: 1) the expression of adhesion molecules (VCAM-1 and ICAM-1) by Cell ELISA and 2) the attachment of monocytes (U937 cells) in TNF-α stimulated Human Aortic Endothelial Cells (HAEC) by Adhesion assay. The impact of treatment with CMG neutral extract and tirucallol in NFκB phosphorylation was also examined by a cell-based ELISA kit. Both CMG extract and tirucallol inhibit significantly VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 expression in TNF-α-stimulated HAEC. They also inhibit significantly the binding of U937 cells to TNF-astimulated HAEC and attenuate the phosphorylation of NFkB p65. This study extends existing data regarding the cardioprotective effect of CMG, expands the spectrum of known phytosterols with potent antiatheromatic activity, provides new insight into the mechanisms underlying the beneficial effect of CMG on endothelial function, and may aid in design of new therapy for intervention in atherosclerosis. Copyright © 2009 by the Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine.
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