Large procyanidins can protect intestinal cells from pro-inflammatory stimuli

ERLEJMAN, A.G.; FRAGA, C.G; OTEIZA, P.I

Davos, Suiza

Congreso; XIII Biennial Meeting of the International Society for Free Radical Research; 2006

International Society for Free Radical Research

High molecular weight procyanidins are not absorbed and are poorly degraded by the intestinal microflora. Thus, most of the actions of these compounds could be limited to the gut lumen. We investigated the capacity of a hexameric procyanidin fraction (Hex) to interact with intestinal epithelium cells and protect them from pro-inflammatory stimuli Material and methods In Caco-2 cells, we measured the capacity of Hex to inhibit the activation of NF-êB induced by TNF-á, PMA and IL-1. Different steps in the NF-êB signaling cascade were evaluated. Results It was observed that Hex physically interacted with the cell plasma membrane. Hex inhibited TNFá-induced: a) increase of cell oxidants; and b) NF-êB activation: phosphorylation and degradation of IêBá, nuclear translocation of RelA and p50, NF-êB-DNA binding activity, and NF-êB-dependent endogenous (iNOS) and reporter (pNF-êB-luc) gene expression. Hex also inhibited IL-1- and PMA-induced NF-êB activation. Conclusion Considering the obtained results we suggest that Hex inhibits NF-êB activation through its interaction with the cell plasma membrane. At the oral cavity and gastrointestinal tract, large procyanidins could provide beneficial effects, in pathologies such as inflammatory diseases, alterations in the intestinal barrier permeability, and cancer.