Dietary flavonoid naringenin induces regulatory T cells via an aryl hydrocarbon receptor mediated pathway.
The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), a transcription factor mediating xenobiotic detoxification, plays a considerable role in regulatory T cell (Treg) induction. Tregs regulate the immune system, thus suppressing allergies and autoimmune diseases. This study aims to identify new types of antiallergic dietary factors, with focus on the flavonoids with potential AhR agonistic activity. Among 25 dietary flavonoid samples tested using a reporter assay, 8 showed marked induction of AhR-dependent transcriptional activity. The subsequent T cell proliferation suppression assay identified naringenin as the only sample capable of stimulating Treg induction; notably, this induction was eliminated by cotreatment with AhR antagonists. Indeed, naringenin induced CD4(+)Foxp3(+) Tregs, irrespective of the presence of the transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), indicating that the conventional TGF-β-dependent signaling pathway might not be involved.
Duke Scholars
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- Transforming Growth Factor beta
- T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory
- Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon
- Mice, Inbred BALB C
- Mice
- Lymphocyte Activation
- Immune Tolerance
- Food Science
- Fluorescent Antibody Technique
- Flavonoids
Citation
Published In
DOI
EISSN
Publication Date
Volume
Issue
Start / End Page
Location
Related Subject Headings
- Transforming Growth Factor beta
- T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory
- Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon
- Mice, Inbred BALB C
- Mice
- Lymphocyte Activation
- Immune Tolerance
- Food Science
- Fluorescent Antibody Technique
- Flavonoids