Flavonoids inhibit tumor necrosis factor-alpha-induced up-regulation of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) in respiratory epithelial cells through activator protein-1 and nuclear factor-kappaB: structure-activity relationships.
Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) has been implicated in the processes of inflammation and carcinogenesis. Flavonoids, which are polyphenolic compounds with a wide distribution throughout the plant kingdom, have potent anti-inflammatory properties. We investigated the effects of flavonols (kaempferol, quercetin, and myricetin) and flavones (flavone, chrysin, apigenin, luteolin, baicalein, and baicalin) on the tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha)-stimulated ICAM-1 expression. Among those flavonoids tested, kaempferol, chrysin, apigenin, and luteolin are active inhibitors of ICAM-1 expression. Additional experiments suggested that apigenin and luteolin were actively inhibiting the IkappaB kinase (IKK) activity, the IkappaBalpha degradation, the nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) DNA-protein binding, and the NF-kappaB luciferase activity. TNF-alpha-induced ICAM-1 promoter activity was attenuated using an activator protein-1 (AP-1) site deletion mutant, indicating the involvement of AP-1 in ICAM-1 expression. AP-1-specific DNA-protein binding activity was increased by TNF-alpha, and the supershift assay identified the components of c-fos and c-jun. Extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and p38 were involved in the c-fos mRNA expression, and c-Jun NH(2)-terminal kinase (JNK) was involved in the c-jun mRNA expression. All three mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activities were inhibited by apigenin and luteolin. In comparison, kaempferol and chrysin only inhibited the JNK activity. The inhibitory effects of apigenin and luteolin on ICAM-1 expression are mediated by the sequential attenuation of the three MAPKs activities, the c-fos and c-jun mRNA expressions, and the AP-1 transcriptional activity. IKK/NF-kappaB pathway is also involved; however, kaempferol- and chrysin-mediated inhibitions are primarily executed through the attenuation of JNK activity, c-jun mRNA expression, and AP-1 activity. The structure-activity relationships are also explored, and the important role of -OH group at positions 5 and 7 of A ring and at position 4 of B ring is noted. Finally, our results suggested that AP-1 seems to play a more significant role than NF-kappaB in the flavonoid-induced ICAM-1 inhibition.
Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, No.1, Jen-Ai Road, Section 1, Taipei 10018, Taiwan. ccchen@ha.mc.ntu.edu.tw
Ching-Chow
CC
Chen
Man-Ping
MP
Chow
Wei-Chien
WC
Huang
Yi-Chu
YC
Lin
Ya-Jen
YJ
Chang
D047310:Apigenin; D004347:Drug Interactions; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000494:pharmacology; D044948:Flavonols / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D051550:I-kappa B Kinase; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D044949:Kaempferols / Q000494:pharmacology; D047311:Luteolin; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism*; D011494:Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D018808:Transcription Factor AP-1 / Q000502:physiology*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020298:U937 Cells; D015854:Up-Regulation
D005419:Flavonoids; D044948:Flavonols; D044949:Kaempferols; D016328:NF-kappa B; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018808:Transcription Factor AP-1; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; C043561:chrysin; C006552:kaempferol; D047310:Apigenin; D011494:Protein Kinases; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; C496559:CHUK protein, human; D051550:I-kappa B Kinase; C496560:IKBKB protein, human; C496565:IKBKE protein, human; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D047311:Luteolin