Gossypol but not cottonseed extracts or lipopolysaccharides stimulates HuR gene expression in mouse cells

Abstract

Human antigen R (HuR) stabilizes cytokine mRNAs and plays an important role in tumorigenesis and inflammation. Plant extracts and compounds that can regulate HuR gene expression may have nutritional and therapeutic value, but little research has been done in this area. This study evaluated the effect of cottonseed extracts, anti-nutritional gossypol and endotoxin lipopolysaccharides (LPS) on HuR gene expression in mouse macrophages. Mouse RAW264.7 macrophages were treated with multiple concentrations of glanded and glandless cottonseed extracts, gossypol and LPS for 2–24 h. qPCR assay showed that cottonseed extracts and LPS had minor effect on HuR gene expression. However, gossypol increased HuR mRNA levels 16 fold in cells treated for 24 h. Immunoblotting confirmed that gossypol increased HuR protein in macrophages. These results showed that gossypol is a strong stimulator of HuR gene expression.

Keywords

• Cottonseed extract
• Gossypol
• Hu antigen R
• Lipopolysaccharide
• Macrophage
• Plant polyphenols