The TRIF/TBK1/IRF-3 activation pathway is the primary inhibitory target of resveratrol, contributing to its broad-spectrum anti-inflammatory effects

Resveratrol, a stilbene type compound identified in wine and fruit juice, has been found to exhibit various pharmacological activities such as anti-oxidative, anti-cancerous, anti-inflammatory and anti-aging effects. Although numerous papers have explored the pharmacology of resveratrol in one particular cellular action, how this compound can have multiple effects simultaneously has not been fully addressed. In this study, therefore, we explored its broad-spectrum inhibitory mechanism using lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-mediated inflammatory responses and reporter gene assays involving overexpression of toll like receptor (TLR) adaptor molecules. Co-transfection of adaptor molecules such as (1) myeloid differentiation primary response gene 88 (MyD88), (2) Toll/4Il-1 Receptor-domain-containing adapter-inducing interferon-β (TRIF), (3) TRIF-related adaptor molecule (TRAM), or (4) TANK-binding kinase (TBK) 1 strongly enhanced luciferase activity mediated by transcription factors including nuclear factor (NF)-κB, activator protein (AP)-1, and interferon regulatory factor (IRF)-3. Of the adaptor proteins, TRIF and TBK1 but not MyD88 and IKK enhanced luciferase activity mediated by these transcription factors. Resveratrol dose-dependently suppressed LPS-induced NO production in macrophages. It also blocked the increases in levels of mRNA for IFN-β, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) that were induced by LPS. Resveratrol diminished the translocation or activation of IRF-3 at 90 min, c-Jun, a subunit of AP-1, and STAT-1 at 120 min, and p50, a subunit of NF-κB, at 60 and 90 min. Resveratrol strongly suppressed the up-regulation of luciferase activity induced by these adaptor molecules with IC₅₀ values of 5 to 65 μM. In particular, higher inhibitory effects of resveratrol were when TRIF or TBK1 were overexpressed following cotransfection of luciferase constructs with IRF-3 binding sequences. Taken together, our data suggest that the suppression of TRIF and TBK1, which mediates transcriptional activation of NF-κB, AP-1, and IRF-3, contributes to resveratrol's broad-spectrum inhibitory activity, and that this compound can be further developed as a lead anti-inflammatory compound.