Scopoletin attenuates allergy by inhibiting Th2 cytokines production in EL-4 T cells

Food Funct. 2012 Aug;3(8):886-90. doi: 10.1039/c2fo30054k. Epub 2012 Jun 27.

Abstract

Scopoletin is an antioxidant found in certain weedy plants. It exerts anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, and anti-diabetic activities. It remains unknown whether scopoletin regulates T helper (Th) cells, including Th 1 and Th 2 cells. We found that scopoletin significantly inhibited phorbol myristate acetate (PMA)/ionomycin-induced interleukin-4 (IL-4), IL-5, and IL-10 production in EL-4 T cells. In addition, scopoletin significantly enhanced the inhibitory action of PMA/ionomycin on interferon-γ (IFN-γ) expression. In EL-4 T cells, PMA/ionomycin treatment markedly increased the expression of nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) and GATA-3; in contrast, scopoletin significantly down-regulated expressions of these transcription factors. Furthermore, this downregulation depended on protein kinase C (PKC) attenuation. This leads us to suggest that the anti-allergic properties of scopoletin might be mediated by the downregulation of cytokine expression in Th 2 cells.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cytokines / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Cytokines / biosynthesis*
  • Hypersensitivity / prevention & control*
  • Interferon-gamma / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Interleukin-1 / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Interleukin-1 / biosynthesis
  • Interleukin-10 / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Interleukin-10 / biosynthesis
  • Interleukin-4 / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Interleukin-4 / biosynthesis
  • Ionomycin / pharmacology
  • Lymphoma, T-Cell
  • Mice
  • Phytotherapy
  • Protein Kinase C / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Scopoletin / pharmacology*
  • Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate / pharmacology
  • Th2 Cells / drug effects*
  • Th2 Cells / metabolism*

Substances

  • Cytokines
  • Interleukin-1
  • Interleukin-10
  • Interleukin-4
  • Ionomycin
  • Interferon-gamma
  • Protein Kinase C
  • Scopoletin
  • Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate