Downregulation of tumor necrosis factor and other proinflammatory biomarkers by polyphenols

Subash C Gupta1, Amit K Tyagi1, Priya Deshmukh-Taskar1

  • 1Cytokine Research Laboratory, Department of Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77054, USA.

Insights

Plant-derived polyphenols can suppress tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha mediated inflammation, offering a natural alternative to existing therapies. These compounds show potential for treating chronic inflammatory diseases like cancer and arthritis.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Immunology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) is a key mediator of inflammation and plays a role in chronic diseases.
  • The TNF superfamily comprises 19 members interacting with 29 receptors, often promoting inflammation via nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB) activation.
  • Existing TNF-alpha blockers have side effects, necessitating exploration of alternative therapeutic strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review plant-derived polyphenols as potential modulators of TNF-mediated inflammatory pathways.
  • To highlight natural compounds that can suppress TNF-alpha-activated inflammation both in vitro and in vivo.
  • To assess the therapeutic potential of these polyphenols against pro-inflammatory diseases.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies investigating plant-derived polyphenols and their effects on TNF-alpha.
  • Analysis of in vitro and in vivo data on polyphenol efficacy in suppressing inflammatory pathways.
  • Identification of specific polyphenols with demonstrated anti-inflammatory properties related to TNF-alpha.

Main Results:

  • Numerous plant-derived polyphenols, including curcumin, resveratrol, and epigallocatechin gallate, were identified.
  • These polyphenols demonstrated the ability to suppress TNF-alpha activated inflammatory pathways.
  • Evidence supports the in vitro and in vivo efficacy of these natural compounds.

Conclusions:

  • Plant-derived polyphenols represent a promising class of agents for modulating TNF-mediated inflammation.
  • These compounds offer potential therapeutic benefits for chronic inflammatory conditions such as cancer, arthritis, and cardiovascular diseases.
  • Further research into these natural compounds could lead to novel treatments with fewer side effects than current TNF blockers.