Production of cytokine and NO by RAW 264.7 macrophages and PBMC in vitro incubation with flavonoids.
Flavonoids, a group of low molecular weight phenylbenzopyrones, have various pharmacological properties including antioxidant activity, anticancer, and immunomodulatory effects. In the present study, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate/phytohemagglutinin (PMA/PHA) were used as stimulants for RAW 264.7 macrophages and human peripheral blood mononuclear cell (hPBMC), and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and interleukin (IL)-2 productions were measured. In addition, flavonoids were examined for their effects on LPS-induced NO production in RAW 264.7 macrophages. The results showed that all compounds were not strongly cytotoxic at the tested concentrations on hPBMC and RAW 264.7 macrophages. On immunomodulatory properties, catechin, epigallocatechin (EGC), naringenin, and fisetin repressed NO production and TNF-alpha secretion. Furthermore, catechin, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), epicatechin (EC), luteolin, chrysin, quercetin, and galangin increased IL-2 secretion while EGC, apigenin, and fisetin inhibited the secretion. These results indicated that flavonoids have the capacity to modulate the immune response and have a potential anti-inflammatory activity. There was no obvious structure-activity relationship regard to the chemical composition of the flavonoids and their cell biological effects.
Immune Modulation Research Laboratory, The Boots Science Building, School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK.
Su-Yun
SY
Lyu
Won-Bong
WB
Park
D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D008875:Middle Aged; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000502:physiology; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate / Q000494:pharmacology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis
D016207:Cytokines; D005419:Flavonoids; D007376:Interleukin-2; D016328:NF-kappa B; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate