Cytokine release by Jurkat T‐lymphocytes is modulated following treatment with polyphenols or Lactobacillus rhamnosus probiotic extracts (1044.10)

Abstract

Quercetin and (‐)‐epigallocatechingallate (EGCG) are dietary polyphenols claimed to exert anti‐inflammatory effects. Jurkat T‐lymphocytes were incubated with 5μM quercetin or ECGC for 48h, with or without 25ng/ml phorbol myristoyl acetate and 5μg/ml phytohaemagglutinin (PMA/PHA) at 24h to induce cytokine release. Inflammatory cytokines interleukin 2 (IL2), 8 (IL8) and tumour necrosis factor α (TNFα) were measured. Unexpectedly, polyphenols had no significant anti‐inflammatory effects and EGCG increased IL8 release from stimulated cells by 174±18%. Polyphenols are digested to phenolic acids by the colonic microflora, thus we hypothesised anti‐inflammatory effects may be mediated by these metabolites. Quercetin and EGCG were fermented with normal gut bacteria (E. coli) or probiotic strain (L. rhamnosus) for 6h and phenolic acids were then isolated by solid phase extraction. Jurkat cells were incubated with the extracts for 48h with or without PMA/PHA stimulation at 24h.E. coli extract increased TNFα release from stimulated cells by 268±51% while L. rhamnosus extract reduced IL8 release from unstimulated cells by 34±2%. EGCG fermented with L. rhamnosus increased IL8 release from stimulated cells by 128±16%, consistent with effects of unfermented EGCG. The findings showed anaerobic bacterial fermentation did not modify polyphenol activity, but supported anti‐inflammatory effects of L. rhamnosus.Grant Funding Source: Supported by BBSRC DRINC