Abstract
Marine fungi are a promising source for bioactive compounds [1]. The fungal strain 222 has been isolated from wood collected at the coast of the Greifswalder Bodden, Baltic Sea, Germany and produces structurally new naphthalenone derivatives, balticols A to F. They possess antiviral activities [2]. Since other naphthalene compounds are known for their anti-inflammatory activities we investigated whether the balticols have an influence on inflammatory immune cells. Balticols (1 and 10µg/ml) were added to rat mononuclear cells (F344-MNC) which were cultured alone or together with H9c2-cardiomyocytes. The latter represents a model of inflammation similar as observed after myocardial infarction. MNC's were collected after 48h and analyzed for T-, B-, NK-, TH-cells and CTL's by flow cytometry. Dexamethasone (Dexa, 10–9 mol/l) served as positive control. None of the balticols except balticol E changed the number of control MNC's. The proportion of T-cells was decreased by balticol B and D, but ICAM-1+T-cells increased. Balticol D decreased TH- and increased B-cells as Dexa which additionally decreased CTL's. None of the substances influenced NK cells. After co-culture with cardiomyocytes TH-cells were decreased while CTL's and ICAM-1+T-cells increased. Balticol D partly anticipated the decrease of TH. Balticol E decreased T-cells, especially TH-cells, but stimulated ICAM-1+T-cells. Dexa anticipated the increase of CTL's, had no influence on the proportion of TH-cells and diminished ICAM-1+T-cells. In summary, balticols B, D and E influence unstimulated MNC's. Unambiguous anti-inflammatory effects were detected using Dexa and balticol E which exerts its effect due reduction of T-cells. arabic 14 English 83