Chokeberry Reduces Inflammation in Human Pre-adipocyte Cells

Abstract

ObjectivesChokeberry, Aronia melanocarpa, consumed as a fruit and used as a traditional food by some American Indian tribes has greater levels of anthocyanin compared to cranberries and blueberries. Animal and human studies demonstrate that chokeberry juice extract (CBE) has cardioprotective, anti-diabetic, and anti-inflammatory properties. Saturated fatty acids including palmitate (PA, 16:0) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) produces pro-inflammatory effects by inducing inflammatory gene expression. The objective of this study was to determine the effect that CBE, Cyanidin 3-O-galactoside (C3Gal) and Cyanidin 3-glucoside(C3G) have on PA or LPS induced inflammation as measured by interleukin-6 (IL-6). MethodsHuman primary subcutaneous pre-adipocyte cells (ATCC, Manassas, Virginia) were pretreated with either 2 uM C3Gal or CBE for three hours. Following pretreatment, cells were treated with 0.17 mM bovine serum albumin (BSA) for control; 0.1 mM PA; BSA in presence of 2uM C3Gal or CBE; and PA in presence of 2 uM C3Gal or CBE. RT-qPCR analysis was conducted to determine IL-6 mRNA expression normalized to 18s rRNA expression. One-way ANOVAs were run to determine significance of group differences. ResultsTreatment of cells with PA increased (P < 0.0001) IL-6 mRNA compared to control and CBE groups. Treatment of cells with CBE decreased (P < 0.0001) PA-induced IL-6 mRNA while C3Gal did not (p = 0.4657). Treatment of cells with CBE decreased (P < 0.0001) LPS-induced IL-6 mRNA while C3G treatment did not (p = 0.4537). ConclusionsPA induces inflammation, as measured by IL-6 mRNA expression, in human primary subcutaneous pre-adipocyte cells. This inflammation is reduced by treatment with CBE while isolated anthocyanin such as C3- galactoside or glucoside has partial inhibition. Future studies will identify additional chokeberry anthocyanins and flavonoids important in anti-inflammatory effects. Funding SourcesThis work was funded by grant support from the USDA Agricultural Research Service Project and NIH National Institute of General Medical Sciences, The Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence Award.