The immunomodulatory effects of barettin and involvement of the kinases CAMK1α and RIPK2.

BACKGROUND: Barettin is a marine natural compound with reported anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. The combination of these effects led us to explore barettin further as an inhibitor of atherosclerosis development.

METHODS: The effect of barettin on MCP-1 and IL-10 secretion from activated immune cells was detected by ELISA. Determination of cell viability of oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) and barettin exposed HUVEC cells were investigated by using CellTiter 96® AQ(ueous) One Solution. The kinase inhibition assays were performed using a radioactive ((33)P-ATP) filter binding assay at the University of Dundee, UK.

RESULTS: Barettin reduces the secretion of monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) from LPS-stimulated monocytes, but was not able to prevent oxLDL-induced cell death in HUVEC. Barettin has inhibitory activity against two protein kinases related to inflammation, namely the receptor-interacting serine/threonine kinase 2 (RIPK2) and calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase 1α (CAMK1α). We also demonstrate that barettin reduce the production of the anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-10 (IL-10) in a dose and time-dependent manner, possibly by inhibiting CAMK1α.

CONCLUSIONS: The anti-inflammatory activity of barettin is exerted through the regulation of inflammatory mediators such as MCP-1 and IL-10, possibly via inhibition of kinases.