The effects of hinokitiol on human cells revealed by a proteomic approach

Abstract

Hinokitiol, a natural substance extracted from plants like Chamaecyparis obtusa var. formosana (Taiwan Hinoki in Japanese), is known to have various functions such as anti-bacterial activities. However, the effects of hinokitiol on human cells have not been fully understood. Thereby, we here comprehensively analyzed the effects of hinokitiol on human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) by a proteomic approach. Specifically, human PBMCs were cultured with or without hinokitiol for 24 hours, then the protein profiles of the PBMC samples were compared by 2-dimensional fluorescence difference gel electrophoresis (2D-DIGE). The protein spots whose intensity was altered by the stimulation with hinokitiol were subjected to protein identification by mass spectrometric analysis and the subsequent protein data base searching. As a result, we found that the intensity of 150 protein spots was significantly altered by the hinokitiol stimulation (p<0.05). Out of them, the intensity of 63 protein spots was increased to more than 1.5 folds or decreased to less than 1/1.5 folds by the hinokitiol stimulation. Further, we identified 22 out of the 63 proteins, which are involved in cytoskeleton structure, polypeptide synthesis, homeostasis, and apoptosis, Taken together, this study identified multiple proteins that are significantly influenced the hinokitiol in PBMCs. Our data would be of great help to use hinokitiol more effectively and safely in daily life.