Propolis Ethanol Extract Stimulates Cytokine and Chemokine Production through NF-κB Activation in C2C12 Myoblasts

Abstract EN

Myoblast activation is a triggering event for muscle remodeling.

We assessed the stimulatory effects of propolis, a beehive product, on myoblasts.

After an 8 h treatment with 100 μg/mL of Brazilian propolis ethanol extract, expression of various chemokines, including CCL-2 and CCL-5, and cytokines, such as IL-6, increased.

This propolis-induced cytokine production appears to depend on NF-κB activation, because the IKK inhibitor BMS-345541 repressed mRNA levels of CCL-2 by ~66%, CCL-5 by ~81%, and IL-6 by ~69% after propolis treatment.

Supernatant from propolis-conditioned C2C12 cells upregulated RAW264 macrophage migration.

The supernatant also stimulated RAW264 cells to produce angiogenic factors, including VEGF-A and MMP-12.

Brazilian green propolis therefore causes myoblasts to secrete cytokines and chemokines, which might contribute to tissue remodeling of skeletal muscle.