1-0-Hexyl-2,3,5-trimethylhydroquinone inhibits IκB phosphorylation and degradation-linked inducible nitric oxide synthase expression: beyond antioxidant function

• Published in: Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology 2002-03, Vol.54 (3), p.383-389
• Main Authors: Liu, Wei, Itoigawa, Masataka, Miki, Tokutaro, Nishikawa, Hiroshi, Sugiyama, Satoru, Ishikawa, Naohisa
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0022-3573; 2042-7158
• DOI: 10.1211/0022357021778628

Inducible nitric oxide (NO) production in macrophages plays an important role in atherosclerosis, the protective effects of vitamin E and its derivatives perhaps being partly mediated by alteration in this parameter. We have investigated the influence of a novel synthesized vitamin E derivative, 1‐0‐hexyl‐2,3,5‐trimethylhydroquinone (HTHQ), on NO production in the RAW 264.7 mouse macrophage cell line. HTHQ dose‐dependently inhibited lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐induced NO production through reducing LPS‐triggered inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression. The phosphorylation and subsequent degradation of IKB caused by LPS in RAW 264.7 cells was markedly blocked. The free radical scavenging activity of HTHQ was only 2‐fold that of vitamin E, whereas its inhibition of NO production was found to be nearly 500‐fold stronger. Our results indicated that HTHQ suppressed NO production in macrophages by blocking IKB degradation and thus inhibiting iNOS expression. The inhibitory activity of HTHQ on NO production did not parallel its free radical scavenging activity, implying a possible involvement of additional functions.