Cinnamaldehyde is a principle compound isolated from
Guizhi-Tang (GZT), which is a famous traditional Chinese medical formula used to treat
influenza,
common cold and other pyretic conditions. Transient receptor potential vanilloid subtype 4 (TRPV4) is expressed in the anterior hypothalamus and may act as thermosensor. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of
cinnamaldehyde on the production of
prostaglandin E2 (
PGE2) and the expression of TRPV4 in mouse cerebral microvascular endothelial cell strain (b.End3). In the research work, the b.End3 cells were cultured in DMEM medium containing
interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) in the presence or absence of
ruthenium red (RR), a kind of known TRPV4 inhibitor, or different concentrations of
cinnamaldehyde. The results suggested that IL-1beta significantly increase production of
PGE2 and
cinnamaldehyde evidently decrease IL-1beta-induced
PGE2 production, while RR showed no inhibitory effect on
PGE2 production. Moreover, it was identified that TRPV4 was expressed at the
mRNA and
protein levels in b.End3 cells. IL-1beta could up-regulate the expression of TRPV4, RR and
cinnamaldehyde could down-regulate the high expression of
mRNA and
protein of TRPV4 by IL-1beta induced in b.End3 cells. In conclusion,
cinnamaldehyde decreased the production of
PGE2 and the expression of TRPV4 in b.End3 cells induced by IL-1beta.