Protective effects of genistein on proinflammatory pathways in human brain microvascular endothelial cells

Yong W. Lee, Won H. Lee

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

64 Scopus citations

Abstract

Proinflammatory cerebromicrovascular environment has been implicated in the critical early pathologic events in a variety of neurodegenerative diseases. Recent studies also have demonstrated the potential beneficial effects of soy isoflavones. However, cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying these processes are not fully understood. The present study was designed to examine the hypothesis that soy isoflavone genistein may attenuate cytokine-induced proinflammatory pathways in human brain microvascular endothelial cells. The quantitative real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay showed that pretreatment of HBMEC with increasing concentrations of genistein significantly and dose-dependently inhibited cytokine-induced up-regulation of mRNA and protein expression of proinflammatory mediators such as tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, interleukin-8, and intercellular adhesion molecule-1. In addition, genistein pretreatment significantly reduced cytokine-mediated up-regulation of transmigration of blood leukocytes in a dose-dependent manner. Our results suggest that genistein may attenuate proinflammatory pathways through inhibition of cytokine-induced overexpression of proinflammatory mediators and inflammatory reactions in human brain microvascular endothelial cells.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)819-825
Number of pages7
JournalJournal of Nutritional Biochemistry
Volume19
Issue number12
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2008
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Blood-brain barrier
  • Brain microvascular endothelial cells
  • Genistein
  • Inflammation

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Nutrition and Dietetics
  • Clinical Biochemistry

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