title: The cocoa flavanol (-)-epicatechin protects the cortisol response.
abstract: Various health benefits of the cocoa flavanol (-)-epicatechin (EC) have been attributed to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potency. In the present study we investigated whether EC is able to prevent deterioration of the anti-inflammatory effect of the glucocorticoid (GC) cortisol in the presence of oxidative stress. It was found that cortisol reduces inflammation in differentiated monocytes. Oxidative stress extinguishes the anti-inflammatory effect of cortisol, leading to cortisol resistance. EC reduces intracellular oxidative stress as well as the development of cortisol resistance. This further deciphers the enigmatic mechanism of EC by which it exerts its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant action. The observed effect of the cocoa flavanol EC will especially be of relevance in pathophysiological conditions with increased oxidative stress and consequential GC resistance and provides a fundament for the rational use of dietary antioxidants.
authors.affiliation: Department of Toxicology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands. Electronic address: e.ruijters@maastrichtuniversity.nl.
authors.forename: Erik J B
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Ruijters
authors.affiliation: Department of Toxicology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Guido R M M
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Haenen
authors.affiliation: Department of Toxicology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Antje R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Weseler
authors.affiliation: Department of Toxicology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Aalt
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bast
mesh_terms: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002099:Cacao; D002392:Catechin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000494:pharmacology; D006896:Hydroxyethylrutoside / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000378:metabolism; D009000:Monocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism; D020298:U937 Cells
chemical_list: C522803:7-monohydroxyethylrutoside; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D006896:Hydroxyethylrutoside; D016209:Interleukin-8; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D002392:Catechin; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D006854:Hydrocortisone
keywords: (−)-Epicatechin; (−)-Epicatechin (PubChem CID: 72276); (−)-epicatechin; 2′,7′-dichlorofluorescein-diacetate; 7-Mono-O-(β-hydroxyethyl)-rutoside (PubChem CID 5464100); AP1; Anti-oxidant; COPD; Cortisol; Cortisol (PubChem CID 5754); DCFH-DA; EC; GC; GCR; Glucocorticoid resistance; IL-8; Inflammation; LDH; LPS; MH; Monocytes; NF-κB; PMA; Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate; ROS; SRB; TNF; activator protein-1; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; glucocorticoid; glucocorticoid receptor; interleukin-8; lactate dehydrogenase; lipopolysaccharides; monoHER, 7-mono-O-(β-hydroxyethyl)-rutoside; nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells; reactive oxygen species; sulforhodamine B; tumor necrosis factor