title: Kaempferol enhances the suppressive function of Treg cells by inhibiting FOXP3 phosphorylation.
abstract: Kaempferol is a natural flavonoid found in many vegetables and fruits. Epidemiologic studies have described that Kaempferol intake could reduce risk of cancer, especially lung, gastric, pancreatic and ovarian cancers. Recent studies have shown that Kaempferol could also be beneficial to the body to defend against inflammation, and infection by bacteria and viruses; however, the molecular mechanism of its immunoregulatory function remains largely unknown. Through screening a small molecule library of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), we identified that Kaempferol could enhance the suppressive function of regulatory T cells (Tregs). Kaempferol was found to increase FOXP3 expression level in Treg cells and prevent pathological symptoms of collagen-induced arthritis in a rat animal model. Kaempferol could also reduce PIM1-mediated FOXP3 phosphorylation at S422. Our study reveals a molecular mechanism that underlies the anti-inflammatory action of Kaempferol for the prevention and treatment of inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and ankylosing spondylitis.
authors: Unit of Molecular Immunology, Key Laboratory of Molecular Virology & Immunology, Institut Pasteur of Shanghai, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China.
authors: Fang
authors: F
authors: Lin
authors: Unit of Molecular Immunology, Key Laboratory of Molecular Virology & Immunology, Institut Pasteur of Shanghai, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China.
authors: Xuerui
authors: X
authors: Luo
authors: Unit of Molecular Immunology, Key Laboratory of Molecular Virology & Immunology, Institut Pasteur of Shanghai, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China.
authors: Andy
authors: A
authors: Tsun
authors: Unit of Molecular Immunology, Key Laboratory of Molecular Virology & Immunology, Institut Pasteur of Shanghai, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China.
authors: Zhiyuan
authors: Z
authors: Li
authors: Unit of Molecular Immunology, Key Laboratory of Molecular Virology & Immunology, Institut Pasteur of Shanghai, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China.
authors: Dan
authors: D
authors: Li
authors: Unit of Molecular Immunology, Key Laboratory of Molecular Virology & Immunology, Institut Pasteur of Shanghai, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China. Electronic address: binli@sibs.ac.cn.
authors: Bin
authors: B
authors: Li
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001169:Arthritis, Experimental; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D057809:HEK293 Cells; D006801:Humans; D019169:Jurkat Cells; D044949:Kaempferols / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D051573:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-pim-1 / Q000276:immunology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; C418974:FOXP3 protein, human; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; C500522:Foxp3 protein, rat; D044949:Kaempferols; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C006552:kaempferol; D051573:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-pim-1
keywords: Autoimmune disease; FOXP3 phosphorylation; Kaempferol; PIM1; Treg cells