Citrus flavonoid naringenin inhibits TLR2 expression in adipocytes

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) were recently shown to be involved in obesity-induced inflammation in adipose tissue, which contributes to the development of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. Thus, the appropriate regulation of TLR expression or activation is an important strategy for improving obesity-related diseases. In this report, we show that naringenin, a citrus flavonoid, inhibits TLR2 expression during adipocyte differentiation. This effect is mediated in part through peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ activation. In addition, naringenin suppresses TLR2 expression induced by the co-culture of differentiated adipocytes and macrophages and also inhibits tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)-induced TLR2 expression by inhibiting the activation of nuclear factor-κB and c-Jun NH₂-terminal kinase pathways in differentiated adipocytes. Furthermore, naringenin decreases TLR2 expression in adipose tissue of high-fat diet-fed mice. These results are correlated with the improvement of hyperglycemia and the suppression of inflammatory mediators, including TNF-α and monocyte chemotactic protein-1. Taken together, these data suggest that naringenin exhibits anti-inflammatory properties, presumably by inhibiting TLR2 expression in adipocytes. Our findings suggest a molecular mechanism by which naringenin exerts beneficial effects against obesity-related diseases.     

关键酶泛素化位点对柚皮素生物合成的影响

黄酮类化合物具有多种生物活性,在食品、药品、化妆品等领域都有重要应用.柚皮素是多种重要黄酮类化合物生物合成的平台化合物.泛素化是蛋白质翻译后修饰的重要一环,参与调控细胞的生命活动.泛素化的蛋白质通过泛素-蛋白酶体系统降解,对维持细胞正常生理活动具有重要意义,对外源蛋白的表达和积累也可能具有显著影响.文中利用荧光双分子互...     

Jasmonic acid stimulates the expression of nod genes in Rhizobium

Jasmonates and salicylic acid are considered to be signal molecules that induce a variety of plant genes involved in wound or defence response, as well as affecting nos promoter activity. In this paper we examined whether these chemicals could also affect nod genes from isogenic rhizobia strains. Isogenic strains contain the Rhizobium leguminosarum nodA promoter fused to the lacZ gene of Escherichia coli and differ only in the source of the regulatory nodD gene. Naringenin, jasmonic acid and methyl jasmonate induced expression of nod genes in strain RBL1284 and salicylic acid showed no activity alone or when used in combination with other compounds; addition of naringenin + jasmonic acid produced a synergistic effect. Results obtained with strain RBL5284 were similar to those for RBL1284 albeit the combination of naringenin with the other compounds markedly inhibited nod gene expression. Whereas RBL5283 responded to naringenin with a strong induction, jasmonic acid, methyl jasmonate or salicylic acid showed no significant responses. The inhibitory effect of salicylic acid on nod gene expression indicates that the induction mechanism of jasmonic acid, methyl jasmonate, N-propyldihydrojasmonate and naringenin is probably different from that of salicylic acid.     

Anti-atherogenic effect of citrus flavonoids, naringin and naringenin, associated with hepatic ACAT and aortic VCAM-1 and MCP-1 in high cholesterol-fed rabbits

The anti-atherogenic effects of the citrus flavonoids, naringin and naringenin, were evaluated in high cholesterol-fed rabbits. At 3 months of age, 30 male New Zealand White (NZW) rabbits were divided into three groups (n = 10 per group). The rabbits were fed a 1% cholesterol diet alone (control group) or a diet supplemented with either 0.1% naringin or 0.05% naringenin for 8 weeks. The plasma lipoprotein levels, total cholesterol, triglyceride, and high-density lipoprotein showed no significant differences in the control and experimental groups. Hepatic acyl-CoA:cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT) activity was slightly low in naringin (5.0%)- and naringenin (15.0%)-fed rabbits, compared to control group. The aortic fatty streak areas were significantly lower in both the naringin (19.2 +/- 5.6%)- and naringenin (18.1 +/- 6.5%)-supplemented groups than in the control group (60.4 +/- 14.0%). The expression levels of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1), by semiquantitative RT-PCR analysis of the thoracic aorta, were significantly lower in the flavonoids supplemented groups than in the control group. These results suggest that the anti-atherogenic effect of the citrus flavonoids, naringin and naringenin, is involved with a decreased hepatic ACAT activity and with the downregulation of VCAM-1 and MCP-1 gene expression.     

Enhanced cellular cholesterol efflux by naringenin is mediated through inhibiting endoplasmic reticulum stress - ATF6 activity in macrophages

Naringenin improves lipoprotein profile and protects against cardiovascular disease. ATF6 is an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress sensor with the same activation processes with sterol regulator SREBPs. Clinical data revealed that ATF6 expression was associated with plasma cholesterol level. Here, we investigated whether naringenin was involved in the regulation of cholesterol efflux and tested the role of ER stress-ATF6 in the naringenin function. Results showed that naringenin increased cholesterol efflux to both apoA-I and HDL and gene expressions in ABCA1, ABCG1 and LXRα in RAW264.7 macrophages. Naringenin inhibited the cleaved ATF6 nuclear translocation and its target GRP78 and XBP-1 expressions. Naringenin-induced cholesterol efflux was modulated by treatment with ER stress inhibitor 4-phenylbutyric acid, inducer tunicamycin and ATF6 overexpression in RAW264.7 and/or THP-1 cells, which suggested the naringenin functions were mediated through inhibiting ER stress-ATF6 pathway. Next, we found high-fat diet (HFD) supplemented with naringenin increased by >1.2-fold in cholesterol efflux capacity in primary peritoneal macrophage in apoE−/− mice compared to only HFD-fed mice. The increase was significantly reduced by tunicamycin treatment. Naringenin decreased GRP78, XBP-1 and nuclear ATF6 levels in peritoneal macrophage and aorta and reduced atherosclerotic lesion at aortic root, but reversed by tunicamycin. These confirmed participation of ER stress-ATF6 in naringenin efficacy. Finally, we found naringenin promoted AKT phosphorylation; PI3K inhibitor LY294002 treatment increased nuclear ATF6 and reduced naringenin-enhanced ABCA1 expression and cholesterol efflux. We concluded naringenin as a regulator for cholesterol efflux, and the regulation was mediated by ATF6 branch of ER stress and PI3K/AKT pathway.     

Naringenin alleviates nonalcoholic steatohepatitis in middle-aged Apoe−/−mice: role of SIRT1

BackgroundNaringenin is naturally isolated from citrus fruits possessing many pharmacological activities. However, little is known about the effect of naringenin on nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) in the model of metabolic syndrome.PurposeThe present study is aimed to investigate the effect of naringenin on NASH in 12-mo-old male ApoE^−/− mice and its possible underlying mechanism.MethodsIn vivo, 12-mo-old male ApoE^−/− mice were administrated with naringenin by intragastric gavage for 12 weeks. At the end of experiment, the blood samples and liver tissues were collected. Metabolic parameters in serum, levels of triglyceride, cholesterol and hydroxyproline, activities of antioxidant enzymes, and content of inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and IL-6) in liver were examined by corresponding assay kits. Pathological changes in liver were observed by hematoxylin-eosin, oil red O, masson's trichrome, picro-sirius red and senescence β-galactosidase staining. Dihydroethidium was used for detection of reactive oxygen species (ROS). In vitro, AML-12 cells were treated with oleic acid in the presence or absence of naringenin for 24 h. Transfection of SIRT1 siRNA was also conducted in vitro. Lipid accumulation, cellular ROS generation, malondialdehyde content, antioxidant enzyme activities and secretion levels of TNF-α and IL-6 were examined. Both in vivo and in vitro, gene expressions were detected by real-time PCR or western blot.ResultsNaringenin administration improved metabolic parameters, suppressed hepatic steatosis, regulated expression of genes involved in lipid metabolism (FASN, SCD1, PPARα and CPT1α), reduced hepatic fibrosis and cell senescence, inhibited hepatic inflammation as evidenced by the decreased macrophage recruitment and content of TNF-α and IL-6, and reduced hepatic oxidative stress by suppressing ROS generation and normalizing activities of antioxidant enzymes. Notably, naringenin administration increased hepatic SIRT1 protein expression and activity along with the increased deacetylation of liver kinase B1 (LKB1), PGC1α and NF-κB. In vitro study, the benefits of naringenin on lipid accumulation, oxidative stress and inflammation were diminished by SIRT1 siRNA transfection.ConclusionsThese results indicate that naringenin administration may be a potential curative therapy for NASH treatment and the activation of hepatic SIRT1-mediated signaling cascades is involved in its beneficial effects.     

柚皮素合成关键基因表达水平对目标产物积累水平的量化影响

柚皮素是一种天然黄酮类化合物,具有抗炎、抗氧化、抗病毒、预防动脉粥样硬化等多种药理活性,也是其他黄酮类化合物合成的重要前体,具有重要的应用价值。目前,微生物法生产柚皮素等黄酮类化合物由于代谢通路不平衡等原因导致产量较低,在很大程度上限制了其工业应用。文中以一株产柚皮素的酿酒酵母菌株Y-01为研究对象,利用启动子和拷贝数控制柚皮素合成代谢途径关键酶4-香豆酸:CoA连接酶(4CL)、查尔酮合成酶(CHS)和查尔酮异构酶(CHI)编码基因的表达水平,考察这些基因的表达水平对目标产物积累水平的量化影响。结果表明,柚皮素产量与4CL或CHI编码基因的表达量之间关联性较低,而与chs基因的表达量存在显著的正相关性。通过调控chs基因的表达水平,获得一株高产柚皮素的酿酒酵母工程菌株Y-04,产量较出发菌株Y-01提高了4.1倍。研究结果表明,CHS是柚皮素合成过程的关键调控靶点,合理调控CHS表达可以显著促进酿酒酵母积累柚皮素。相关结果为采用代谢工程强化微生物合成柚皮素等重要黄酮类化合物提供了重要的理论参考。     

Stimulation of melanogenesis by the citrus flavonoid naringenin in mouse B16 melanoma cells

Naringenin is a naturally occurring citrus flavanone. In this study, we examined the effect of naringenin on melanogenesis in mouse B16 melanoma cells. Melanin contents and tyrosinase activities were strongly increased by naringenin. Naringenin was found to cause marked increases in the expression levels of melanogenic enzymes.     

The phytoalexin-inducible multidrug efflux pump AcrAB contributes to virulence in the fire blight pathogen, Erwinia amylovora

The enterobacterium Erwinia amylovora causes fire blight on members of the family Rosaceae, with economic importance on apple and pear. During pathogenesis, the bacterium is exposed to a variety of plant-borne antimicrobial compounds. In plants of Rosaceae, many constitutively synthesized isoflavonoids affecting microorganisms were identified. Bacterial multidrug efflux transporters which mediate resistance toward structurally unrelated compounds might confer tolerance to these phytoalexins. To prove this hypothesis, we cloned the acrAB locus from E. amylovora encoding a resistance nodulation division-type transport system. In Escherichia coli, AcrAB of E. amylovora conferred resistance to hydrophobic and amphiphilic toxins. An acrB-deficient E. amylovora mutant was impaired in virulence on apple rootstock MM 106. Furthermore, it was susceptible toward extracts of leaves of MM 106 as well as to the apple phytoalexins phloretin, naringenin, quercetin, and (+)-catechin. The expression of acrAB was determined using the promoterless reporter gene egfp. The acrAB operon was up-regulated in vitro by the addition of phloretin and naringenin. The promoter activity of acrR, encoding a regulatory protein involved in acrAB expression, was increased by naringenin. In planta, an induction of acrAB was proved by confocal laser scanning microscopy. Our results strongly suggest that the AcrAB transport system plays an important role as a protein complex required for virulence of E. amylovora in resistance toward apple phytoalexins and that it is required for successful colonization of a host plant.     

Chemotaxis of Rhizobium SP.S2 Towards Cajanus cajan Root Exudate and Its Major Components

The chemotactic response of Rhizobium sp. S2, a slow-growing Cajanus cajan isolate, towards its host root exudate was examined. Two classes of mutants, one nonchemotactic towards nutrients (amino acids and sugars) and signal compounds like flavonoids and the other, nonchemotactic towards amino acids and sugars but positive towards naringenin, the flavonoid present in Cajanus cajan root exudate, were obtained. The plasmid-cured derivative of the parent showed positive response towards amino acids and sugars but was nonchemotactic towards naringenin. A possible presence of dual chemotaxis pathways, one towards nutrients and the other for sensing signal compounds, was thus demonstrated. The possible involvement of naringenin as a chemoattractant in the preliminary stages of this Rhizobium-legume interaction was also established. Received: 18 September 1998 / Accepted: 22 October 1998     

Multiresistance genes of Rhizobium etli CFN42

Multidrug efflux pumps of bacteria are involved in the resistance to various antibiotics and toxic compounds. In Rhizobium etli, a mutualistic symbiont of Phaseolus vulgaris (bean), genes resembling multidrug efflux pump genes were identified and designated rmrA and rmrB. rmrA was obtained after the screening of transposon-generated fusions that are inducible by bean-root released flavonoids. The predicted gene products of rmrAB shared significant homology to membrane fusion and major facilitator proteins, respectively. Mutants of rmrA formed on average 40% less nodules in bean, while mutants of rmrA and rmrB had enhanced sensitivity to phytoalexins, flavonoids, and salicylic acid, compared with the wild-type strain. Multidrug resistance genes emrAB from Escherichia coli complemented an rmrA mutant from R. etli for resistance to high concentrations of naringenin.     

Naringenin inhibits migration,invasion, induces apoptosis in human lung cancer cells and arrests tumour progression in vitro

Lung cancer is one of the major cause for high-death rate all over the world, due to increased metastasize and difficulties in diagnosis. Naringenin is naturally occurring flavonoid found in various fruits including tomatoes, citrus fruit and figs. Naringenin is known to have several therapeutic effects including anti-atherogenic, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, anticancer and anti-mutagenic. The present study was aimed to analyse the naringenin induced anti-proliferative and apoptosis effects in human lung cancer cells. Cells were treated with various concentrations of naringenin (10, 100 & 200 µmol/L) for 48 hours. Cisplatin (20 µg/mL) was used as positive control. Cell viability, apoptosis, migration and mRNA, and protein expression of caspase-3, matrixmetallo proteinases-2 (MMP-2) and MMP-9 were determined. The cell viability was 93.7 ± 7.5, 51.4 ± 4.4 and 32.1 ± 2.1 at 10, 100 and 200 µmol/L of naringenin respectively. Naringenin significantly increased apoptotic cells. The 100 and 200 µmol/L of naringenin significantly suppressed the larger wounds of cultured human cancer cells compared with the untreated lung cancer cells. Naringenin increased d the expression of caspase-3 and reduced the expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9. Taking all these data together, it is suggested that the naringenin was effective against human lung cancer proliferation, migration and metastasis.     

Attenuation of NDEA‐induced hepatocarcinogenesis by naringenin in rats

Chemoprevention is one of the most promising and realistic approaches in the prevention of cancer. Several bioactive compounds present in fruits and vegetables have revealed their cancer curative potential on hepatocellular carcinoma. Naringenin is one such naturally occurring flavonoid widely found in citrus fruits. In this study, we examined the molecular mechanisms by which naringenin inhibited NDEA‐induced hepatocellular carcinoma in rats by analysing the expression patterns of proliferating cell nuclear antigen, Bcl‐2, NF‐κB, VEGF and MMP‐2/9. Enhanced cell proliferation and apoptotic evasion in NDEA‐induced hepatocarcinogenesis was associated with imbalance in pro‐apoptotic and anti‐apoptotic proteins together with upregulation of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and downregulation of caspase‐3. Administration of pretreatment and posttreatment of naringenin decreased the expression of PCNA and Bcl‐2 and increased the expression of Bax and caspase‐3, indicating antiproliferative and apoptotic effects, respectively. Administration of NDEA increased the tumour expression of NF‐κB, COX‐2, VEGF, MMP‐2 and MMP‐9 that was correlated with more aggressive lesions and tumour growth. Downregulation of NF‐κB, VEGF and MMPs by naringenin seen in the present study were correlated with the inhibition of liver tumour induced by NDEA. Our results suggest that naringenin could act as a legitimate agent by inhibiting cancer processes. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Comparison of metabolic pharmacokinetics of naringin and naringenin in rabbits

Naringin and naringenin are antioxidant constituents of many Citrus fruits. Naringenin is the aglycone and a metabolite of naringin. In order to characterize and compare the metabolic pharmacokinetics of naringenin and naringin, naringenin was administered intravenously and orally to rabbits, and naringin was administered orally. The concentration of naringenin in serum prior to and after enzymatic hydrolysis was determined by HPLC method. The pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated by using WINNONLIN. The results showed that the absolute bioavailability of oral naringenin was only 4%, whereas after taking the conjugated naringenin into account, it increased to 8%. When naringin was administered orally, only little naringenin and predominantly its glucuronides/sulfates were circulating in the plasma. The ratio of AUC of naringenin conjugates to the total naringenin absorbed into the systemic circulation after oral naringenin was much higher when compared to that after i.v. bolus of naringenin, indicating that extensive glucuronidation/sulfation of naringenin occurred during the first pass at gut wall. Oral dosing of naringin resulted in even higher ratio of AUC of naringenin conjugates to the total naringenin than that after oral naringenin. Our results also showed that there were great differences in pharmacokinetics of naringin and naringenin. Oral naringin resulted in latter Tmax, lower Cmax and longer MRT (mean residence time) for both naringenin and its conjugated metabolites than those after oral naringenin.     

不同剂量柚皮素对FADU细胞生长的调节及机制研究

目的:探究不同剂量柚皮素(naringenin)对人下咽癌FADU细胞的作用及其相关机制。方法:以不同剂量(0、100、200、400、800μg/m L)柚皮素对FADU细胞进行处理,倒置显微镜观察细胞形态学变化;cck-8法检测药物作用后不同时间(24、48、72 h)FADU细胞增殖的变化;流式细胞仪检测柚皮素作用48 h细胞凋亡的变化;采用Transwell趋化小室体外侵袭实验测定48 h后细胞的侵袭能力的变化;蛋白免疫印迹法检测48 h后细胞内PI3K/AKT信号通路凋亡相关蛋白表达的影响。结果:cck-8法检测发现柚皮素抑制FADU细胞增殖作用明显,呈浓度和时间依赖性;流式细胞结果发现200,400,800μg/m L柚皮素作用48 h后,FADU细胞的凋亡率显著增高,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。Transwell体外侵袭实验发现,随着柚皮素浓度增加,FADU细胞穿透聚碳酸酯滤膜的能力逐渐减弱,柚皮素有效的抑制FADU细胞在体外的侵袭能力,呈浓度依赖性。同时,蛋白免疫印迹法凋亡相关蛋白检测结果表明,FADU细胞内BCL2、P-AKT和P-PI3K蛋白表达均受到明显抑制。结论:柚皮素能有效抑制人下咽癌FADU细胞的增殖、体外侵袭能力,诱导细胞凋亡;其机制与下调PI3K/AKT信号通路凋亡相关蛋白表达有关。     

A stilbene synthase gene (SbSTS1) is involved in host and nonhost defense responses in sorghum

A chalcone synthase (CHS)-like gene, SbCHS8, with high expressed sequence tag abundance in a pathogen-induced cDNA library, was identified previously in sorghum (Sorghum bicolor). Genomic Southern analysis revealed that SbCHS8 represents a single-copy gene. SbCHS8 expression was induced in sorghum mesocotyls following inoculation with Cochliobolus heterotrophus and Colletotrichum sublineolum, corresponding to nonhost and host defense responses, respectively. However, the induction was delayed by approximately 24 h when compared to the expression of at least one of the other SbCHS genes. In addition, SbCHS8 expression was not induced by light and did not occur in a tissue-specific manner. SbCHS8, together with SbCHS2, was overexpressed in transgenic Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) tt4 (transparent testa) mutants defective in CHS activities. SbCHS2 rescued the ability of these mutants to accumulate flavonoids in seed coats and seedlings. In contrast, SbCHS8 failed to complement the mutation, suggesting that the encoded enzyme does not function as a CHS. To elucidate their biochemical functions, recombinant proteins were assayed with different phenylpropanoid-Coenzyme A esters. Flavanones and stilbenes were detected in the reaction products of SbCHS2 and SbCHS8, respectively. Taken together, our data demonstrated that SbCHS2 encodes a typical CHS that synthesizes naringenin chalcone, which is necessary for the formation of different flavonoid metabolites. On the other hand, SbCHS8, now retermed SbSTS1, encodes an enzyme with stilbene synthase activity, suggesting that sorghum accumulates stilbene-derived defense metabolites in addition to the well-characterized 3-deoxyanthocyanidin phytoalexins.     

Effects of grapefruit juice on the multidrug transporter P-glycoprotein in the human proximal tubular cell line HK-2

The multidrug transporter MDR-1 P-glycoprotein (Pgp) has been recently pointed out as an important mechanism underlying chemical interaction between drugs and many commonly ingested substances, including grapefruit juice (GFJ). Modulation of intestinal Pgp dependent transport by GFJ may lead to changes in bioavailability of drugs that are substrates of Pgp itself, by affecting their presystemic clearance. Since other cellular sites expressing Pgp and devoted to drug disposition, like kidney proximal tubules, could be involved in these pharmacokinetic interactions, we investigated the effect of GFJ on the expression and activity of Pgp in the human immortalized tubular cell line HK-2. Two flavonoid compounds related to GFJ, kaempferol and naringenin, were also tested for their effects on HK-2 Pgp. HK-2 cells cultured for 4 days in the presence of GFJ, showed a dose-dependent decrease in Pgp immunoblottable amount as well as a decrease in MDR-1 mRNA level, as shown by western blot analysis and RT-PCR, respectively. Both kaempferol and naringenin were also able to significantly decrease Pgp immunoblottable amount. To test whether the downregulation of HK-2 Pgp due to GFJ exposition could influence the cell sensitivity to drugs that are transported by Pgp itself, HK-2 cells precultured with GFJ were exposed to scalar concentrations of Cyclosporin A or Vinblastine and cell viability examined 36 hours later. The cytotoxicity of both drugs was increased. The calcein-AM test in untreated cells showed that GFJ, kaempferol or naringenin inhibited Pgp activity. Downregulation of Pgp as well inhibition of its function by GFJ or its related components in tubular cells could have a role in changing disposition kinetics of some important therapeutic agents.