Planta Med 2004; 70(2): 178-180
DOI: 10.1055/s-2004-815498
Letter
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Tanshinones Inhibit Mast Cell Degranulation by Interfering with IgE Receptor-Mediated Tyrosine Phosphorylation of PLCγ2 and MAPK

Hong-Seok Choi1 , Kyeong-Man Kim1
  • 1Pharmacology Laboratory, College of Pharmacy, Chonnam National University, Kwang-Ju, Korea
This study was supported by a grant of the Korea Health 21 R&D Project, Ministry of Health & Welfare, Republic of Korea (02-PJ2-PG3-21 203-0001)
Further Information

Publication History

Received: July 7, 2003

Accepted: October 3, 2003

Publication Date:
02 March 2004 (online)

Abstract

Recently we have isolated four active components from Tanshen (the root of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge, Labiatae) responsible for the anti-allergic activities. In this study, the molecular mechanism of action of tanshinones for the inhibition of mast cell degranulation was investigated by testing their effects on the signaling components of the high affinity IgE receptor FcεRI. Activation of FcεRI produced immediate tyrosine phosphorylation of Syk, mitogen-activated protein kinase extracellular signal-regulated kinase, ERK1/ERK2 (p44, p42), and phospholipase Cγ2 (PLCγ2). 5,16-Dihydrotanshinone-I possessed the strongest inhibitory effects on mast cell degranulation and markedly reduced FcεRI-mediated tyrosine phosphorylation of ERK and PLCγ2. This suggests that tanshinones possibly exert their anti-allergic activities by affecting FcεRI-mediated tyrosine phosphorylation of ERK and PLCγ2.

Abbreviations

FcεRI:high affinity IgE receptor

ERK:extracellular signal regulated kinase

PLC: phospholipase C

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Kyeong-Man Kim, Ph. D.

Pharmacology Laboratory

College of Pharmacy

Chonnam National University

Kwang-Ju, 500-757

Korea

Fax: +82-62-530-2949

Email: kmkim@chonnam.ac.kr