Immunopharmacology and inflammationAnti-inflammatory effect of berkeleyacetal C through the inhibition of interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinase-4 activity

Berkeleyacetal C (BAC) isolated from Penicillium sp. which had isolated from a soil sample collected in Fukushima, inhibited NO production and induction of iNOS protein in RAW264.7 cells stimulated by the Toll-like receptor (TLR) 2 ligand, peptidoglycan (PGN) or TLR4 ligand, lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The other inflammatory mediator production by these stimulators was also suppressed by BAC in a concentration-dependent manner. BAC inhibited LPS- or PGN-activated nuclear translocation of nuclear factor (NF)-κB and MyD88-dependent signaling molecules. However, it showed no effect on LPS-induced nuclear translocation of interferon regulatory factor (IRF)-3, a MyD88-independent signaling molecule. To clarify the mechanistic basis for BAC ability to inhibit translocation of NF-κB and activated MyD88-dependent signaling molecules, we examined interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinase (IRAK)-4, existing to the most upstream on MyD88-dependent signaling molecules, in vitro kinase assay. BAC suppressed IRAK-4 kinase activity in a concentration-dependent manner. These findings suggest that BAC inhibits LPS- and PGN- induced NO production and iNOS expression by decreasing the level of the translocating of NF-κB in nuclear through inhibiting the kinase activity of IRAK-4 in inflammatory cells.