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Triggering of dendritic cell apoptosis by xanthohumol
Nguyen Thi Xuan1, Ekaterina Shumilina, Erich Gulbins
1Department of Physiology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.
Xanthohumol, a beer flavonoid, triggers apoptosis in immune cells by activating acid sphingomyelinase (Asm). This leads to ceramide formation, caspase activation, and programmed cell death in dendritic cells.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Xanthohumol, a flavonoid found in beer, exhibits anticancer and anti-inflammatory properties.
- Its effects on immune cell survival and function, particularly dendritic cells (DCs), are not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of xanthohumol on the survival and function of dendritic cells (DCs).
- To elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying xanthohumol's effects on DCs.
Main Methods:
- Mouse bone marrow-derived DCs were treated with xanthohumol.
- Assessed acid sphingomyelinase (Asm) activity, ceramide formation (FACS, immunohistochemistry), caspase activation (FACS, Western blotting), DNA fragmentation (sub-G1 phase), and cell membrane scrambling (annexin V binding).
Main Results:
- Xanthohumol treatment stimulated Asm activity and enhanced ceramide formation in DCs.
- This resulted in caspase 8 and 3 activation, DNA fragmentation, and cell membrane scrambling.
- These effects were absent in Asm-deficient DCs or when using a sphingomyelinase inhibitor.
Conclusions:
- Xanthohumol induces apoptosis in bone marrow-derived DCs.
- The mechanism involves the stimulation of Asm, leading to caspase activation and subsequent cell death.
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