Eugenol prevents fMLF-induced superoxide anion production in human neutrophils by inhibiting ERK1/2 signaling pathway and p47phox phosphorylation

Sci Rep. 2019 Dec 6;9(1):18540. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-55043-8.

Abstract

Eugenol is a polyphenol extracted from Syzygium aromaticum essential oil. It is known to have anti-inflammatory and chemoprotective properties as well as a potent anti-oxidant activity due the presence of its phenolic group. In this study, we examined the effects of eugenol on neutrophil superoxide production, a key process involved in innate immunity and inflammation. Superoxide anion generationin human neutrophils was measured by cytochrome c reduction assay. Western blotting was used to analyze the phosphorylation of, p47phox, MAPKinases (p38 and ERK1/2), MEK1/2 and Raf, key proteins involved in the activation of NADPH oxidase. Pretreatment of neutrophils by increasing concentrations (2.5 µg/mL-20 µg/mL) of eugenol for 30 min, inhibited significantly (p < 0.001) superoxide anion generation induced by the chemotactic peptide formyl-Met-Leu-Phe (fMLF) with an IC50 of 5 µg/mL. Phorbolmyristate acetate (PMA)-stimulated O2- production was affected only at the highest eugenol concentration (20 µg/mL). Results showed that eugenol decreased the phosphorylation of p47phox onSer-345 and Ser-328, the translocation of p47phox to the membranesand the phosphorylation of Raf, MEK1/2 and ERK1/2 proteins. Taken together, our results suggest that eugenol inhibits the generation of superoxide anion by neutrophils via the inhibition of Raf/MEK/ERK1/2/p47phox-phosphorylation pathway.

MeSH terms

  • Antioxidants / pharmacology*
  • Chemotaxis / immunology
  • Eugenol / pharmacology*
  • Healthy Volunteers
  • Humans
  • MAP Kinase Signaling System / drug effects*
  • MAP Kinase Signaling System / immunology
  • N-Formylmethionine Leucyl-Phenylalanine / metabolism
  • NADPH Oxidases / antagonists & inhibitors
  • NADPH Oxidases / metabolism*
  • Neutrophils / drug effects*
  • Neutrophils / immunology
  • Neutrophils / metabolism
  • Oxidative Stress / drug effects
  • Oxidative Stress / immunology
  • Phosphorylation / drug effects
  • Primary Cell Culture
  • Superoxides / metabolism

Substances

  • Antioxidants
  • Superoxides
  • Eugenol
  • N-Formylmethionine Leucyl-Phenylalanine
  • NADPH Oxidases
  • neutrophil cytosolic factor 1