title: Modulatory effects of quercetin on proliferation and differentiation of the human colorectal cell line Caco-2.
abstract: The effect of the dietary flavonoid quercetin was investigated on proliferation and differentiation of the human colon cancer cell line Caco-2. Confluent Caco-2 monolayers exposed to quercetin showed a biphasic effect on cell proliferation and a decrease in cell differentiation (0.001<P<0.05). During differentiation Caco-2 cells formed 5 phase II metabolites, of which the amount of 4'-O-methyl-quercetin-3'-O-glucuronide correlated with the differentiation grade (r=0.99, P<0.003). The increment of cell proliferation at low quercetin concentrations and the decrease in cell differentiation are effects opposite to what would be expected for a functional food ingredient with anti-carcinogenic potential.
authors.affiliation: Physiological Sciences Department, TNO Quality of Life, Zeist, The Netherlands. dihal@voeding.tno.nl
authors.forename: Ashwin A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Dihal
authors.forename: Ruud A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Woutersen
authors.forename: Ben
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: van Ommen
authors.forename: Ivonne M C M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Rietjens
authors.forename: Rob H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Stierum
mesh_terms: D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018938:Caco-2 Cells; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004355:Drug Stability; D006801:Humans; D011794:Quercetin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents; D011794:Quercetin