Anti-inflammatory effects of natural volatile organic compounds from Pinus koraiensis and Larix kaempferi in mouse model

Natural volatile organic compounds(VOCs) extracted from conifers such as P. koraiensis and L. kaempferi have long been studied for their anti-oxidant, anti-proliferative, and anti-inflammatory effects. To evaluate the anti-inflammatory effects of VOCs from P. koraiensis and L. kaempferi, lipopolysaccharide(LPS) was administered to generate a mouse model for inflammation by the nasal route to the lungs and intraperitoneally to the whole body. VOCs of P. koraiensis and L. kaempferi were exposed to the mice by standardized wood panels with closed system. Increased levels of serum IgE and PGE2 were observed after exposure to dexamethasone and VOCs. We further determined the expression levels of inflammatory cytokine mRNA in the LPS-induced inflammation model by the reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Furthermore, the levels of cyclooxygenase-2, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β, and interleukin-13 were determined in peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Those inflammatory cytokines and the key enzyme for inflammation cyclooxygenase-2 expression in PBMCs were strongly reversed by dexamethasone and VOCs. Lung tissues after nasal LPS exposure showed increased cytokine mRNA expressions which were suppressed by treatment with dexamethasone and VOCs. Furthermore, the damage induced by LPS was attenuated by dexamethasone and VOCs. In conclusion, the results from the present study indicate that VOCs of P. koraiensis and L. kaempferi have a therapeutic potential in the treatment or prevention of local and systemic inflammation due to their immunosuppressive effects.

Role of inflammasome regulation on immune modulators

Inflammatory responses are essential in eliminating harmful substrates from damaged tissue and inducing recovery.Several cytokines participate in and facilitate this response. Certain cytokines such as interleukin(IL)-1β and IL-18 are initially produced in precursor form in response to toll-like receptor(TLR) ligands and undergo maturation by inflammasomes, which are cytosolic multi-protein complexes containing nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain(NOD)-containing protein 2-like receptors(NLRs). Immune modulators targeting inflammasomes have been investigated to control inflammatory diseases such as metabolic syndrome. However, most immune modulators possessing anti-inflammasome properties attenuate production of other cytokines, which are essential for host defense. In this review, we analyzed the effect of anti-inflammasome agents on the production of cytokines which are not regulated by inflammasome and involving in initial immune responses. As a result, the infiammasome inhibitors are put into three categories: non-effector, stimulator, or inhibitor of cytokine production. Even the stimulator of cytokine production ameliorated symptoms resulting from inflammasome activation in mouse models. Thus, we suggest ideal immune modulators targeting inflammasomes in order to enhance cytokine production while inhibiting cytokine maturation.