title: Suppression mechanisms of flavonoids on aryl hydrocarbon receptor-mediated signal transduction.
abstract: The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is a ligand-activated transcription factor that mediates biological and toxicological effects by binding to its agonists such as 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD). Previously we demonstrated that flavonoids suppressed the TCDD-induced DNA-binding activity of the AhR in a structure-dependent manner. In this study, we investigated the mechanisms by which flavonoids suppressed the AhR-mediated signal transduction in mouse hepatoma Hepa-1c1c7 cells. Flavones and flavonols suppressed the TCDD-induced nuclear translocation of the AhR and dissociation of its partner proteins, heat shock protein 90 and X-associated protein 2, whereas flavanones and catechins did not. Flavonoids of all these four subclasses suppressed the phosphorylation of both AhR and Arnt and the formation of a heterodimer consisting of these proteins. Since certain flavonoids are known to inhibit mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), we confirmed the contribution of MAPK/ERK kinase (MEK) to the AhR-mediated signal transduction by using U0126, an inhibitor of MEK1/2. U0126 suppressed TCDD-induced phosphorylation of the AhR and Arnt followed by the DNA-binding activity of the AhR. Flavanones and catechins suppressed the TCDD-induced phosphorylation of ERK1/2. The inhibition of MEK/ERK phosphorylation is one of the mechanisms by which flavanones and catechins suppress the AhR-mediated signal transduction in Hepa-1c1c7 cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Agrobioscience, School of Agricultural Science, Kobe University, 1-1 Rokkodai-cho, Nada-ku, Kobe 657-8501, Japan.
authors.forename: Rie
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mukai
authors.forename: Yasuhito
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shirai
authors.forename: Naoaki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Saito
authors.forename: Itsuko
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Fukuda
authors.forename: Shin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nishiumi
authors.forename: Ken-Ichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yoshida
authors.forename: Hitoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ashida
mesh_terms: D021581:Active Transport, Cell Nucleus / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D051784:Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Nuclear Translocator / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D001483:Base Sequence; D002392:Catechin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D044950:Flavanones / Q000494:pharmacology; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000145:classification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D010766:Phosphorylation; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins / Q000633:toxicity; D018336:Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: C497397:Arnt protein, mouse; D017931:DNA Primers; D044950:Flavanones; D005419:Flavonoids; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins; D018336:Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D051784:Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Nuclear Translocator; D002392:Catechin; C045651:epigallocatechin gallate; C005273:naringenin