Pulmonary inflammation is a characteristic of many lung diseases. Increased levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), have been correlated with lung inflammation. In this study, we demonstrated that various inflammatory agents, including lipopolysaccharide, 12-o-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate, hydrogen peroxide, okadaic acid and ceramide, were able to induce IL-1β and TNF-α productions in human lung epithelial cells (A-549), fibroblasts (HFL1), and lymphoma cells (U-937). Berberine, the protoberberine alkaloid widely distributed in the plant kingdom, was capable of suppressing inflammatory agents-induced cytokine production in lung cells. Inhibition of cytokine production by berberine was dose-dependent and cell type-independent. Moreover, the suppression of berberine on the cytokine production resulted from the inhibition of inhibitory κB-α phosphorylation and degradation. In conclusion, our findings suggested the potential role of berberine in the treatment of pulmonary inflammation.
