title: Flavones induce immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effects by activating cellular anti-oxidant activity: a structure-activity relationship study.
abstract: Flavonoids impart a variety of biological activities, including anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-genotoxic effects. This study investigated the effects of flavone luteolin and apigenin on immune cell functions, including proliferation, natural killer (NK) cell activity, and cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) activity of isolated murine splenocytes. We report for the first time that flavones enhance lymphocyte proliferation at 10 μM. Luteolin and apigenin significantly promote lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated splenocyte proliferation and enhance humoral immune responses. Luteolin induces a weak cell proliferation of lectin-stimulated splenic T cells, when compared to apigenin. In addition, both flavones significantly enhance NK cell and CTL activities. Furthermore, our study demonstrated that both flavones could inhibit lysosomal enzyme activity, suggesting a potential anti-inflammatory effect. The anti-inflammatory activity was concomitant with the cellular anti-oxidant effect detected in macrophages, red blood cells, and splenocytes. We conclude from this study that flavones exhibited an immunomodulatory effect which could be ascribed, in part, to its cytoprotective capacity via its anti-oxidant activity.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Dental Medicine, University of Monastir, Monastir, Tunisia. soumaya.kilani@laposte.net.|Unit of Bioactive and Natural Substances and Biotechnology UR12ES12, Faculty of Pharmacy of Monastir, University of Monastir, Monastir, Tunisia. soumaya.kilani@laposte.net.
authors.forename: Soumaya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kilani-Jaziri
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Dental Medicine, University of Monastir, Monastir, Tunisia.|Unit of Bioactive and Natural Substances and Biotechnology UR12ES12, Faculty of Pharmacy of Monastir, University of Monastir, Monastir, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Nadia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mustapha
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Dental Medicine, University of Monastir, Monastir, Tunisia.|Unit of Bioactive and Natural Substances and Biotechnology UR12ES12, Faculty of Pharmacy of Monastir, University of Monastir, Monastir, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Imen
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mokdad-Bzeouich
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Dental Medicine, University of Monastir, Monastir, Tunisia.|Unit of Bioactive and Natural Substances and Biotechnology UR12ES12, Faculty of Pharmacy of Monastir, University of Monastir, Monastir, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Dorra
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: El Gueder
authors.affiliation: Unit of Bioactive and Natural Substances and Biotechnology UR12ES12, Faculty of Pharmacy of Monastir, University of Monastir, Monastir, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Kamel
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ghedira
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Dental Medicine, University of Monastir, Monastir, Tunisia.|Unit of Bioactive and Natural Substances and Biotechnology UR12ES12, Faculty of Pharmacy of Monastir, University of Monastir, Monastir, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Leila
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ghedira-Chekir
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D047309:Flavones / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D008247:Lysosomes / Q000378:metabolism; D017737:Macrophages, Peritoneal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D047309:Flavones; D007155:Immunologic Factors
keywords: Apigenin; CTL activity; Cellular anti-oxidant activity; Immunomodulation; Luteolin; NK activity