DA-9601 inhibits activation of the human mast cell line HMC-1 through inhibition of NF-kappaB.

Mast cell-mediated allergic inflammation is involved in many diseases such as asthma, sinusitis, and rheumatoid arthritis. Mast cells induce synthesis and production of pro-inflammatory cytokines including tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, interleukin (IL)-1beta and IL-6 with immune regulatory properties. The formulated ethanol extract of Artemisia asiatica Nakai (DA-9601) has been reported to have antioxidative and anti-inflammatory activities. In this report, we investigated the effect of DA-9601 on the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines by the activated human mast cell line HMC-1 and studied its possible mechanisms of action. DA-9601 dose-dependently decreased the gene expression and production of TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, and IL-6 on phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)- and calcium ionophore A23187-stimulated HMC-1 cells. In addition, DA-9601 attenuated PMA- and A23187-induced activation of NF-kappaB as indicated by inhibition of degradation of IkappaBalpha, nuclear translocation of NF-kappaB, NF-kappaB/DNA binding, and NF-kappaB-dependent gene reporter assay. Our in vitro studies provide evidence that DA-9601 might contribute to the treatment of mast cell-derived allergic inflammatory diseases.