Inhibition of TNF‐α‐Induced MUC5AC Mucin Gene Expression and Production by Wogonin Through the Inactivation of NF‐κB Signaling in Airway Epithelial Cells

In this study, we investigated whether wogonin significantly affects MUC5AC mucin gene expression and production in human airway epithelial cells. Confluent NCI‐H292 cells were pretreated with wogonin for 30 min and then stimulated with tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) for 24 h or the indicated periods. The MUC5AC mucin gene expression and mucin protein production were measured by RT‐PCR and ELISA, respectively. We found that incubation of NCI‐H292 cells with wogonin significantly inhibited mucin production and down‐regulated MUC5AC gene expression induced by TNF‐α in a dose‐dependent fashion. To elucidate the action mechanism of wogonin, effect of wogonin on TNF‐α‐induced NF‐κB signaling pathway was investigated by western blot analysis. Wogonin inhibited NF‐κB activation induced by TNF‐α. Inhibition of IKK by wogonin led to the suppression of IκB phosphorylation and degradation, p65 nuclear translocation and NF‐κB‐regulated gene expression. This, in turn, led to the down‐regulation of MUC5AC protein production in NCI‐H292 cells. Wogonin also inhibited the gene products involved in cell survival (Bcl‐2) and proliferation (cyclooxygenase‐2). These results suggest that wogonin inhibits the NF‐κB signaling pathway, which may explain its role in the inhibition of MUC5AC mucin gene expression and production. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.