The immunostimulatory effect of novel immunostimulator CH2b with a thiazolidin-4-one ring on the functions of LPS-activated RAW 264.7 macrophages in vitro

This study was designed to confirm the effect of the novel immunostimulators CH1b and CH2b with a thiazolidin-4-one ring on the function of macrophages. We used these two molecules to stimulate LPS-activated RAW 264.7 macrophages in vitro. After a series of essential assays, we found that CH1b and CH2b could significantly increase the production of nitric oxide (NO) by the LPS-activated RAW 264.7 macrophages, and also found that CH2b could more significantly increase the proliferation, phagocytic activity, and secretion of IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-α by LPS-activated RAW 264.7 cells more than CH1b. Furthermore, CH2b could increase the degradation of IκB-α and could promote the nuclear translocation of nuclear factor (NF)-κB p65 in LPS-activated RAW 264.7 cells. However, CH2b could also increase the phosphorylation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK). Taken together, we got that CH2b could further increase the LPS-induced activation of NF-κB and p38 MAPK in RAW 264.7 macrophages to elevate the function of macrophages, including iNOS expression, NO production, cytokines secretion, and phagocytosis.