The paper is a study of how norbergenin, a natural compound found in some medicinal plants, can prevent inflammation in macrophages, which are immune cells central to the innate immune system. The authors used proteomics and metabolomics to measure the changes in proteins and metabolites in macrophages treated with norbergenin and lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a molecule that triggers inflammation. They found that norbergenin:

• Reduced the production of inflammatory cytokines (such as IL1β, TNFα, and IL6) and nitric oxide, which are involved in tissue damage and chronic diseases1.
• Inhibited the activation of NFκB and STAT3, two key signaling pathways that regulate inflammation and immune responses2.
• Restored the mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS), which is impaired by LPS and leads to energy deficiency and oxidative stress3.
• Modulated the metabolic enzymes and intermediates of glycolysis and the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, which are altered by LPS and affect inflammation and cell function4.

The paper contributes to the understanding of how natural compounds can modulate inflammation by affecting multiple molecular and metabolic processes. The paper also demonstrates the power of combining proteomics and metabolomics to reveal the complex regulation of inflammation. The paper has implications for developing new anti-inflammatory therapies from natural sources.

Read the full open access paper here:
Norbergenin prevents LPS-induced inflammatory responses in macrophages through inhibiting NFκB, MAPK and STAT3 activation and blocking metabolic reprogramming

W Li, Z Cai, F Schindler, S Bahiraii, M Brenner, EH Heiss, W Weckwerth

Frontiers in Immunology 14, 1117638