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. 2019 Jun 25;106(3):460–468. doi: 10.1254/jphs.FP0072378

Glycyrrhizin Inhibits Interleukin-8 Production and Nuclear Factor–κ B Activity in Lung Epithelial Cells, but Not Through Glucocorticoid Receptors

Hironori Takei 1, Yuichiro Baba 1, Akinori Hisatsune 1, Hiroshi Katsuki 1, Takeshi Miyata 2, Kazumi Yokomizo 2, Yoichiro Isohama 1,*
PMCID: PMC7129470  PMID: 18344608

Abstract

This study was designed to examine the glucocorticoid-like inhibitory effect of glycyrrhizin (GL) on interleukin (IL)-8 production in A549 lung epithelial cells. GL, as well as dexamethasone (DEX) inhibited both tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α –and IL-1β –induced IL-8 production, mRNA expression, and promoter activity in A549 cells. Both GL and DEX inhibited transactivation of nuclear factor (NF)-κ B, without inhibiting translocation of the NF-κ B p65 subunit to the nucleus. However, the effect of GL was insensitive to RU486, a GR antagonist, and to GR knockdown by siRNA. Furthermore, only GL inhibited DNA binding of p65 to the IL-8 promoter region. These findings indicated that GL had a glucocorticoid-like inhibitory effect on IL-8 production via a mechanism that differs from that of glucocorticoids.

Keywords: glycyrrhizin, glucocorticoid, nuclear factor (NF)-κ B, interleukin (IL)-8, A549 cell

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