Inhibition effects of Vitex rotundifolia on inflammatory gene expression in A549 human epithelial cells

Background: Vitex rotundifolia has long been used in traditional medicine to treat asthma and other allergic diseases. Objective: To evaluate the anti-inflammatory mechanisms of V rotundifolia in cultured A549 human alveolar epithelial cells. Methods: In the present study, A549 cells were stimulated with tumor necrosis factor α, interleukin 4, and interleukin 1β to induce expression of chemokines and adhesion molecules involved in eosinophil chemotaxis. The anti-inflammatory effects of V rotundifolia on stimulated A549 cells were then evaluated by analyzing eotaxin secretion and eosinophil migration. In addition, the effects of V rotundifolia on gene expression profiles in stimulated A549 cells were evaluated by oligonucleotide microarray and real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RTRP). Results: The V rotundifolia-treated A549 cells had significantly suppressed eotaxin secretion and eosinophil migration in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, the results of the microarray analysis and RTRP revealed that inflammation-related genes and cell adhesion-related genes were down-regulated in V rotundifolia-treated A549 cells. Furthermore, several genes related to the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway were down-regulated in V rotundifolia-treated A549 cells. Conclusions: The mechanism responsible for the effects of V rotundifolia on A549 cells is closely associated with regulation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway. Thus, V rotundifolia may be useful in the treatment of asthma and other allergic diseases.