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

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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