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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Davis, California » Western Human Nutrition Research Center » Immunity and Disease Prevention Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #183605
Title: INHIBITION OF HOMODIMERIZATION OF TOLL-LIKE RECEPTOR 4 BY CURCUMIN

Author
item YOUN, HYUNG - USDA, ARS, WHNRC, UCDAVIS
item SAITOH, SHIN - UNIV. TOKYO, MED. SCI.
item MIYAKE, KENSUKE - UNIV. TOKYO, MED. SCI.
item Hwang, Daniel

Submitted to: Biochemical Pharmacology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/28/2006
Publication Date: 6/28/2006
Citation: Youn, H.S., Saitoh, S.I., Miyake, K., Hwang, D.H. 2006. INHIBITION OF HOMODIMERIZATION OF TOLL-LIKE RECEPTOR 4 BY CURCUMIN. Biochemical Pharmacology. 72(2006):62-69.

Interpretive Summary: Plant polyphenols with a structural motif that confer Michael-type addition can inhibit Toll-like receptor-mediated inflammatory responses. These results provide a mechanistic base for why certain phytochemicals possess anti-inflammatory effects. These results can facilitate identifying potential anti-inflammatory agents from variety of phytochemicals.

Technical Abstract: Toll-like receptors play a key role in sensing microbial components and inducing innate immune responses. Ligand-induced dimerization of Toll-like receptor (TLR) 4 is required for the activation of downstream signaling pathways. Thus, the receptor dimerization may be one of the first lines of regulation in activating TLR-mediated signaling pathways and induction of subsequent immune responses. Here, we report biochemical evidence that phytochemicals (curcumin and sesquiterpene lactone) with a structural motif that can confer Michael-type addition, inhibit both ligand-induced and ligand-independent dimerization of TLR4. These results imply that the activation of TLRs and subsequent immune/inflammatory responses induced by endogenous molecules or chronic infection can be modulated by certain dietary phytochemicals we consume daily.