Natural pseurotins inhibit proliferation and inflammatory responses through the inactivation of STAT signaling pathways in macrophages.

Abstract Background Natural pseurotins, secondary metabolites of fungi, commonly produced by various species such as Aspergillus flavus with suggested significant biological effects. However, little is known about effects of pseurotins on immune system functions. Methods Effects of pseurotin A and D on proliferation and viability of macrophage RAW 264.7 cells were evaluated together with mitochondrial respiration and glycolysis. Macrophage response to lipopolysaccharide was analyzed based on determination of nitric oxide (NO) production, expression of inducible NO synthase (iNOS), interleukin 6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor production. Activation of selected signaling pathways, particularly STAT and MAPK, as well as expression of cyclins were determined. Results Natural pseurotins A and D in concentrations of up to 50 μM significantly inhibit proliferation of RAW 264.7 macrophages which was not complemented by induction of cell toxicity. The inhibition of cell proliferation was accompanied by downregulation of expression of cyclins and mitochondrial respiration via inhibition of particularly STAT3 phosphorylation. Both pseurotins significantly inhibited production of NO, expression of iNOS and IL-6 production. Conclusion Our results advance the current mechanistic understanding of the pseurotin-induced inhibition of proliferation, metabolic respiration and functional responses in macrophages by linking the effect to JAK/STAT signaling pathway.