Dendritic cells (DCs) are antigen presenting cells, which can present antigens to T-cells and play an important role in linking innate and adaptive immunity. DC maturation can be induced by many stimuli, including pro-inflammatory cytokines and bacterial products, such as lipopolysaccharides (LPS). Here, we examined the immunomodulatory effects of marine cembrane compounds, (9E,13E)-5-acetoxy-6-hydroxy-9,13-dimethyl-3- methylene-3,3a,4,5,6,7,8,11,12,14a-decahydro-2H-cyclotrideca[b]furan-2-one (1), (9E,13E)- 5-acetoxy-6-acetyl-9,13-dimethyl-3-methylene-3,3a,4,5,6,7,8,11,12,14a-decahydro-2H-cyclotrideca[b]furan-2-one (2), lobocrassin B (3), (−)14-deoxycrassin (4), cembranolide B (5) and 13-acetoxysarcocrassolide (6) isolated from a soft coral, Lobophytum crassum, on mouse bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDCs). The results revealed that cembrane-type diterpenoids, especially lobocrassin B, effectively inhibited LPS-induced BMDC activation by inhibiting the production of TNF-α. Pre-treatment of BMDCs with Lobocrassin B for 1 h is essential to prohibit the following activation induced by various toll-like receptor (TLR) agonists, such as LPS, zymosan, lipoteichoic acid (LTA) and Pam2CSK4. Inhibition of NF-κB nuclear translocation by lobocrassin B, which is a key transcription factor for cytokine production in TLR signaling, was evident as assayed by high-content image analysis. Lobocrassin B attenuated DC maturation and endocytosis as the expression levels of MHC class II and the co-stimulatory molecules were downregulated, which may affect the function of DCs to initiate the T-cell responses. Thus, lobocrassin B may have the potential in treatment of immune dysregulated diseases in the future.

5-Episinuleptolide acetate (5EPA), a cytotoxic norcembranoidal diterpene recently identified from the Formosan soft coral Sinularia sp., exhibited potent activity against the K562, Molt 4 and HL 60 cancer cell lines. The antiproliferative assay, as well as the annexin V-FITC/propidium iodide (PI) apoptotic assay, indicated that the HL 60 cell line is the most sensitive one towards 5EPA. This diterpenoid led to caspases -3, -8, and -9 activation as well as PARP cleavage. It also induced ROS generation, calcium accumulation and disruption of mitochondrial membrane potential. Additionally, the expression levels of Hsp90 protein and several client proteins were downregulated in response to 5EPA treatment. These results suggest that 5EPA’s cytotoxic effect on HL 60 cells may be attributed to the inhibition of Hsp90 as well as the induction of mitochondrial stress which finally results in apoptotic cell death.

Background Bufo bankorensis is an endemic species in Taiwan, and its populations are geographically and reproductively isolated. However, the distinction of Taiwanese B. bankorensis as a separate species from the Chinese Bufo gargarizans remains in dispute. Results A primer set was designed to explore the mitochondrial (mt)DNA cytochrome (Cyt) b sequence (700 bp) of B. bankorensis in 148 individuals collected from 12 locations in Taiwan. After a polymerase chain reaction and sequencing, we found that the nucleotide sequence of Cyt b contained two restricted enzyme sites of Bam HI and Tsp RI. Following Bam HI enzyme digestion, samples of B. bankorensis were divided into two clades: western (which were undigested) and eastern (which were digested) clades. Additionally, Cyt b of the western clade of B. bankorensis was not cut by Bam HI, while it was cut by Tsp RI into two sublineages. The result infers that at least two broadly divergent phylogroups of B. bankorensis exist in Taiwan and are not morphologically distinguishable. Based on the divergent sequence of Cyt b and cutting restriction enzymes, these populations were classified into three distinct phylogroups. Conclusion Genetically, one (western group 1, uncut by Bam HI and cut by Tsp RI) is most likely B. gargarizans, a second one (western group 2, uncut by both Bam HI and Tsp RI) is B. bankorensis, and a third one (eastern clade, cut by Bam HI but not cut by Tsp RI) could be a new subspecies. All three phylogroups were found in some areas, suggesting that they are sympatric, not allopatric.