Brazilin-Ce nanoparticles attenuate inflammation by de/ anti-phosphorylation of IKK

Inflammation is associated with a series of diseases like cancer, cardiovascular disease and infection, and phosphorylation/dephosphorylation modification of proteins are important in inflammation regulation. Here we designed and synthesized a novel Brazilin-Ce nanoparticle (BX-Ce NPs) using Brazilin, which has been used for antiinflammation in cardiovascular diseases but with narrow therapeutic window, and Cerium (IV), a lanthanide which has the general activity in catalyzing the hydrolysis of phosphoester bonds, to conferring de/antiphosphorylation of IKK beta. We found that BX-Ce NPs specifically bound to Asn225 and Lys428 of IKK beta and inhibited its phosphorylation at Ser181, contributing to appreciably anti-inflammatory effect in cellulo (IC50 = 2.5 mu M). In vivo mouse models of myocardial infarction and sepsis also showed that the BX-Ce NPs significantly ameliorated myocardial injury and improved survival in mice with experimental sepsis through downregulating phosphorylation of IKK beta. These findings provided insights for developing metal nanoparticles for guided ion interfere therapy, particularly synergistically target de/anti-phosphorylation as promising therapeutic agents for inflammation and related diseases.