Quercetin Attenuates TNF-Induced Inflammation in Hepatic Cells by Inhibiting the NF-kappaB Pathway
Menée sur une lignée cellulaire d'hépatome humain, cette étude montre que la quercétine, un flavonoïde d'origine végétale, peut réduire l'inflammation induite par le facteur de nécrose tumorale dans les cellules hépatiques en inhibant la voie du facteur de transcription NF-kappa B
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-kappaB), functionally dependent on cellular redox status. This study aims to investigate the antiinflammatory effect of quercetin and its role on the NF-kappaB 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-kappaB route induced by tumor necrosis factor-alpha. 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.