title: Inhibition of interleukin-4 production in activated T cells via down-regulation of NF-AT DNA binding activity by apigenin, a flavonoid present in dietary plants.
abstract: Apigenin, a flavonoid present in many dietary plants, exhibits anti-allergic activity and inhibits IL-4 production by basophils and mast cells. However, the mechanism by which apigenin suppresses IL-4 production especially in T cells remains unclear. In this study, the effect of apigenin and its underlying mechanism on IL-4 production were investigated in activated T cells. Apigenin significantly inhibited IL-4 production in both EL4 T thymoma cells and primary lymph node cells. Apigenin also inhibited IL-4 gene promoter activity in EL4 cells transiently transfected with IL-4 gene promoter constructs, but this inhibitory effect was impaired in EL4 cells transfected with an IL-4 promoter construct deleted of NF-AT binding sites. In addition, apigenin inhibited NF-AT DNA binding activities, indicating that apigenin may inhibit IL-4 production in T cells via down-regulation of NF-AT DNA binding activity.
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Korea University, Seoul 136-701, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Seung Hyun
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Tae Sung
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D047310:Apigenin / Q000502:physiology*; D001665:Binding Sites; D002273:Carcinogens / Q000494:pharmacology; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008811:Mice, Inbred DBA; D050778:NFATC Transcription Factors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects; D011485:Protein Binding / Q000502:physiology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D002273:Carcinogens; D050778:NFATC Transcription Factors; D015847:Interleukin-4; D047310:Apigenin; D004247:DNA; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate