Flavonoid fraction of Bergamot juice reduces LPS-induced inflammatory response through SIRT1-mediated NF-κB inhibition in THP-1 monocytes

PLoS One. 2014 Sep 26;9(9):e107431. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0107431. eCollection 2014.

Abstract

Plant polyphenols exert anti-inflammatory activity through both anti-oxidant effects and modulation of pivotal pro-inflammatory genes. Recently, Citrus bergamia has been studied as a natural source of bioactive molecules with antioxidant activity, but few studies have focused on molecular mechanisms underlying their potential beneficial effects. Several findings have suggested that polyphenols could influence cellular function by acting as activators of SIRT1, a nuclear histone deacetylase, involved in the inhibition of NF-κB signaling. On the basis of these observations we studied the anti-inflammatory effects produced by the flavonoid fraction of the bergamot juice (BJe) in a model of LPS-stimulated THP-1 cell line, focusing on SIRT1-mediated NF-κB inhibition. We demonstrated that BJe inhibited both gene expression and secretion of LPS-induced pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α) by a mechanism involving the inhibition of NF-κB activation. In addition, we showed that BJe treatment reversed the LPS-enhanced acetylation of p65 in THP-1 cells. Interestingly, increasing concentrations of Sirtinol were able to suppress the inhibitory effect of BJe via p65 acetylation, underscoring that NF-κB-mediated inflammatory cytokine production may be directly linked to SIRT1 activity. These results suggest that BJe may be useful for the development of alternative pharmacological strategies aimed at reducing the inflammatory process.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acetylation
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Citrus / chemistry*
  • Cytokines / metabolism
  • Enzyme Activation / drug effects
  • Flavonoids / chemistry
  • Flavonoids / pharmacology*
  • Humans
  • Inflammation / metabolism
  • Inflammation Mediators / metabolism
  • Lipopolysaccharides / pharmacology
  • Monocytes / drug effects*
  • Monocytes / metabolism*
  • NF-kappa B / metabolism*
  • Plant Extracts / chemistry
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Sirtuin 1 / metabolism*
  • Transcription Factor RelA / metabolism

Substances

  • Cytokines
  • Flavonoids
  • Inflammation Mediators
  • Lipopolysaccharides
  • NF-kappa B
  • Plant Extracts
  • Transcription Factor RelA
  • Sirtuin 1

Grants and funding

Research was supported by a grant from Sicily Region (PO FESR Sicilia 2007/2013, CUP G73F11000050004 to MN, project “MEPRA”, n° 133 of Linea d′Intervento 4.1.1.1). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.