Hericenone C attenuates the second phase of formalin-induced nociceptive behavior by suppressing the accumulation of CD11c-positive cells in the paw epidermis via phosphorylated P65

  • Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2024 Aug 6:720:150077. doi: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2024.150077.
Junhao Li  1 ,  Kengo Hamamura  1 ,  Yuya Yoshida  1 ,  Shimpei Kawano  1 ,  Shohei Uchinomiya  2 ,  Jiahongyi Xie  3 ,  Damiana Scuteri  4 ,  Kohei Fukuoka  1 ,  Orion Zaitsu  1 ,  Fumiaki Tsurusaki  1 ,  Yuma Terada  1 ,  Ryotaro Tsukamoto  1 ,  Takumi Nishi  1 ,  Taiki Fukuda  1 ,  Kosuke Oyama  5 ,  Giacinto Bagetta  6 ,  Akio Ojida  2 ,  Kuniyoshi Shimizu  3 ,  Shigehiro Ohdo  1 ,  Naoya Matsunaga  7
Affiliations
  • 1. Department of Clinical Pharmacokinetics, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi Higashi-ku, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan.
  • 2. Department of Medical Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi Higashi-ku, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan.
  • 3. Department of Agro-Environmental Sciences, Graduate School of Bioresources and Bioenvironmental Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, 819-0395, Japan.
  • 4. Department of Health Sciences, Magna Graecia University of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, 88100, Italy.
  • 5. Department of Clinical Pharmacokinetics, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi Higashi-ku, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan; Department of Biological Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science, Niijuku, Katsushika-ku, Tokyo, 125-8585, Japan.
  • 6. Pharmacotechnology Documentation and Transfer Unit, Preclinical and Translational Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, Rende, 87036, Italy.
  • 7. Department of Clinical Pharmacokinetics, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi Higashi-ku, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan. Electronic address: [email protected].
Abstract

Hericenone C is one of the most abundant secondary metabolites derived from Hericium erinaceus, under investigation for medicinal properties. Here, we report that Hericenone C inhibits the second phase of formalin-induced nociceptive behavior in mice. As the second phase is involved in inflammation, in a mechanistic analysis on cultured cells targeting NF-κB response element (NRE): luciferase (Luc)-expressing cells, lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced NRE::Luc luciferase activity was found to be significantly inhibited by Hericenone C. Phosphorylation of p65, which is involved in the inflammatory responses of the NF-κB signaling pathway, was also induced by LPS and significantly reduced by Hericenone C. Additionally, in mice, the number of CD11c-positive cells increased in the paw during the PEAK of the second phase of the formalin test, which decreased upon Hericenone C intake. Our findings confirm the possibility of Hericenone C as a novel therapeutic target for pain-associated inflammation.

Keywords
CD11c; Formalin test; Hericenone C; NF-κB; Nociceptive behavior; p65.
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