Dimeric sesquiterpenoids isolated from Chloranthus japonicus inhibited the expression of cell adhesion molecules

In the search for cell adhesion inhibitors from natural sources, three active compounds were isolated from Chloranthus japonicus Sieb. (Chloranthaceae) roots. The compounds were identified as dimeric sesquiterpenoids of shizukaol B (1), cycloshizukaol A (2) and shizukaol F (3). These compounds inhibited PMA-induced homotypic aggregation of HL-60 cells without cytotoxicity with MIC values of 34.1 nM (1), 0.9 μM (2) and 27.3 nM (3), respectively. Although 1–3 did not affect the direct binding of LFA-1 to ICAM-1, these compounds markedly inhibited ICAM-1 expression in HL-60 cells in a dose-dependent fashion. On the other hand, when HUVEC were pretreated with 1–3 and stimulated with TNF-α, adhesion of THP-1 cells to HUVEC decreased in dose-dependent manner with IC50 values of 54.6 nM, 1.2 μM and 34.1 nM, respectively. In fact, 1 inhibited TNF-α-induced surface expression of the ICAM-1, VCAM-1 and E-selectin in HUVEC with IC50 values of 5.4 nM, 13.6 μM and 95.6 nM, respectively. The present findings suggest that 1–3 prevent monocyte adhesion to HUVEC through the inhibition of cell adhesion molecules expression stimulated by TNF-α.