title: Flavonols inhibit proinflammatory mediator release, intracellular calcium ion levels and protein kinase C theta phosphorylation in human mast cells.
abstract: Mast cells participate in allergies, and also in immunity and inflammation by secreting proinflammatory cytokines. Flavonoids are naturally occurring polyphenolic plant compounds, one group of which -- the flavonols, inhibits histamine and some cytokine release from rodent basophils and mast cells. However, the effect of flavonols on proinflammatory mediator release and their possible mechanism of action in human mast cells is not well defined. Human umbilical cord blood-derived cultured mast cells (hCBMCs) grown in the presence of stem cell factor (SCF) and interleukin (IL)-6 were preincubated for 15 min with the flavonols quercetin, kaempferol, myricetin and morin (0.01, 0.1, 1, 10 or 100 microM), followed by activation with anti-IgE. Secretion was quantitated for IL-6, IL-8, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), histamine and tryptase levels. Release of IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-alpha was inhibited by 82-93% at 100 microM quercetin and kaempferol, and 31-70% by myricetin and morin. Tryptase release was inhibited by 79-96% at 100 microM quercetin, kampferol and myricetin, but only 39% by morin; histamine release was inhibited 52-77% by the first three flavonols, but only 28% by morin. These flavonols suppressed intracellular calcium ion elevations in a dose-response manner, with morin being the weakest; they also inhibited phosphorylation of the calcium-insensitive protein kinase C theta (PKC theta). Flavonol inhibition of IgE-mediated proinflammatory mediator release from hCBMCs may be due to inhibition of intracellular calcium influx and PKC theta signaling. Flavonols may therefore be suitable for the treatment of allergic and inflammatory diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02111, USA.
authors.forename: Duraisamy
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kempuraj
authors.forename: Bhuvaneshwari
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Madhappan
authors.forename: Spyridon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Christodoulou
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Boucher
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: Nikoletta
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Papadopoulou
authors.forename: Curtis L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Cetrulo
authors.forename: Theoharis C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Theoharides
mesh_terms: D002118:Calcium / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016207:Cytokines / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000494:pharmacology; D044948:Flavonols / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006636:Histamine Release / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D018189:Immunomagnetic Separation; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D044949:Kaempferols / Q000494:pharmacology; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D011493:Protein Kinase C / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D000074121:Protein Kinase C-theta; D011794:Quercetin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D053802:Tryptases
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D005419:Flavonoids; D044948:Flavonols; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D007527:Isoenzymes; D044949:Kaempferols; C006552:kaempferol; C040015:myricetin; D011794:Quercetin; C076233:PRKCQ protein, human; D011493:Protein Kinase C; D000074121:Protein Kinase C-theta; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases; D053802:Tryptases; D002118:Calcium