Abstract

In an earlier study, we found PBP inhibited the progress of adjuvant-induced arthritis (AA). This study was aimed at evaluating the inhibitory effects of PBP in terms of NF-κB activation by using immunohistochemical and immunofluorescent technique in vitro and in vivo. IL-1β and TNF-α in serum were detected by method of ELISA. Immunofluorescent results showed that PBP inhibited NF-κB p65 translocation into nucleus. In vivo imaging showed that treatment with PBP decreased the enzyme labeling signal of NF-κB p65. Immunohistochemical staining revealed that PBP suppressed production of NF-κB p65 subunit in the joints and attenuated the productions of IL-1β and TNF-α in serum from AA. Moreover, NF-κB p65 nucleus translocation was prevented by simultaneous incubation with PBP and PGE2 was decreased by PBP through a feedback cycle. We report the first confirmation of the mimotope of PGE2 receptor EP4 modulatory action.

Keywords: Cytokine, inflammation, modulator, NF-κB, PGE2 binding peptide, rheumatoid arthritis, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), interleukin (IL)-1, cytokines, EP4 receptor