Activation of macrophages by a laccase-polymerized polyphenol is dependent on phosphorylation of Racl

Various physiologically active effects of polymerized polyphenols have been reported. In this study, we synthesized a polymerized polyphenol (mL2a-pCA) by polymerizing caffeic acid using mutant Agaricus brasiliensis laccase and analyzed its physiological activity and mechanism of action. We found that mL2a-pCA induced morphological changes and the production of cytokines and chemokines in C3H/HeN mouse-derived resident peritoneal macrophages in vitro. The mechanisms of action of polymerized polyphenols on in vitro mouse resident peritoneal cells have not been characterized in detail previously. Herein, we report that the mL2a-pCA-induced production of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) in C3H/HeN mouse-derived resident peritoneal cells was inhibited by treatment with the Racl inhibitor NSC23766 trihydrochloride. In addition, we found that mL2a-pCA activated the phosphorylation Racl. Taken together, the results show that mL2a-pCA induced macrophage activation via Racl phosphorylation-dependent pathways. (C) 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.