Chemical inducer of regucalcin attenuates lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammatory responses in pancreatic MIN6 β-cells and RAW264.7 macrophages.

We previously isolated derrisfolin A, a novel rotenoid derivative, from the stems of Derris trifoliata Lour. (Leguminosae). Here, we report that derrisfolin A induces the expression of endogenous regucalcin (RGN) protein in both pancreatic MIN6 β-cells and RAW264.7 macrophages. Induction of RGN expression by derrisfolin A or retrovirus-mediated gene transfer in MIN6 cells and RAW264.7 macrophages significantly decreased lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced mRNA expression of Nos2, Il1b, and Tnf via nuclear factor-κB activation; reduced LPS-induced apoptosis in MIN6 cells, accompanied by decreased production of nitric oxide, interleukin-1β, and tumor necrosis factor-α; and attenuated generation of LPS-induced reactive oxygen species, malondialdehyde, and 3-nitrotyrosine in MIN6 cells. Additionally, in co-cultures of MIN6 cells with RAW264.7 macrophages in the presence of LPS, induction of RGN expression by derrisfolin A or retrovirus-mediated gene transfer in RAW264.7 macrophages attenuated apoptosis and oxidative/nitrosative stress in MIN6 cells. These results suggest that the induction of RGN expression in MIN6 cells was effective in suppressing LPS-induced inflammatory cytotoxicity and that in co-culture conditions, the induction of RGN expression in RAW264.7 macrophages blocked LPS-induced paracrine effects of RAW264.7 macrophages on inflammatory cytotoxicity in MIN6 cells. Our findings suggest that derrisfolin A, a chemical inducer of RGN, might be useful for developing a new drug against macrophage-associated β-cell inflammation in type 2 diabetes.