Depolymerized cranberry proanthocyanidins attenuate TNFα‐induced inflammation in human adipocytes and induce paraptosis‐like cell death in HepG2 hepatoma cells

Abstract

Cranberries are rich source of proanthocyanidins (PAC) that possess plethora health benefits including anti‐proliferative and anti‐inflammatory activities. However, 85% of PAC in Cranberries exist as polymers which cannot be absorbed. Recently, we have developed a depolymerization procedure to convert PAC polymers into absorbable oligomers. The aim of this study was to determine novel functions of depolymerized cranberry proanthocyanidins (dPAC). First, we evaluated the anti‐inflammatory potential of dPAC in primary human adipocytes. Our data showed that dPAC 1) reduced adipose‐derived stem cell differentiation in a dose‐dependent manner, 2) dampened the basal and TNFα‐stimulated pro‐inflammatory gene expressions and 3) inhibited MAP‐kinase ERK and JNK activation. Next, we assessed the anti‐proliferative and apoptotic potentials of dPAC on hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells. Our data showed that dPAC effectively 1) reduced proliferation, 2) increased autophagy and 3) induced paraptosis‐like cell death in HepG2 cells. Collectively, dPAC exerted unique anti‐inflammatory effects in unmodified cells, and anti‐proliferative and pro‐apoptotic effects in modified cancer cells.Grant Funding Source: University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences