title: Quercetin attenuates TNF-induced inflammation in hepatic cells by inhibiting the NF-κB pathway.
abstract: The dietary flavonoid quercetin is an antioxidant that possesses antiinflammatory and anticarcinogenic properties and may modulate signaling pathways. Inflammation is considered to play a pivotal role in carcinogenesis by triggering activation of transcription factors such as nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), functionally dependent on cellular redox status. This study aims to investigate the antiinflammatory effect of quercetin and its role on the NF-κB pathway, and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and mitogen-activated protein kinases modulation in a human hepatoma cell line (HepG2). Quercetin alone did not modify any of the parameters analyzed but protected cells against activation of the NF-κB route induced by tumor necrosis factor-α. This inhibitory effect of quercetin was mediated, at least in part, by extracellular regulated kinase, c-jun amino-terminal kinase, and reactive oxygen species, and it was accompanied by reduced COX-2 levels. These observations suggest that quercetin may contribute as an antiinflammatory agent in the liver and provide evidences about its role in the prevention of diseases associated with inflammation, including cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Metabolism and Nutrition, Institute of Food Science, Technology and Nutrition-ICTAN (former Instituto del Frío), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Ciudad Universitaria, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Ana Belén
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Granado-Serrano
authors.forename: María Ángeles
authors.initials: MÁ
authors.lastname: Martín
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bravo
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Goya
authors.forename: Sonia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ramos
mesh_terms: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D056945:Hep G2 Cells; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism; D011794:Quercetin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D016328:NF-kappa B; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D011794:Quercetin; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; C496540:PTGS2 protein, human; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases