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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BHNRC) » Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center » Diet, Genomics and Immunology Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #366374
Research Project: Elucidating Phytonutrient Bioavailability, Health Promoting Effects and Mechanisms of Existing/Emerging Foods and Beverages

Location: Diet, Genomics and Immunology Laboratory

Title: Kahweol Found in Coffee Inhibits IL-2 Production Via Suppressing the Phosphorylations of ERK and c-Fos in Lymphocytic Jurkat Cells

Author
item Park, Jae

Submitted to: Journal of Dietary Supplements
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/15/2020
Publication Date: 6/25/2020
Citation: Park, J.B. 2020. Kahweol found in coffee inhibits IL-2 production via suppressing the phosphorylations of ERK and c-Fos in lymphocytic jurkat cells. Journal of Dietary Supplement. 18{1-11). https://doi.org/10.1080/19390211.2020.1784347.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/19390211.2020.1784347

Interpretive Summary: Numerous studies suggest that coffee consumption may have positive health effects on several inflammation-related diseases such as fat liver fibrosis and diabetes, speculating the presence of anti-inflammatory compounds accountable for the purported effects. Cafestol and kahweol are bioactive compounds found in coffee. They were reported to have several biological activities including anticarcinogenic effects. However, there is no information about their effects on IL-2 production in activated T-lymphocytes, which is critically involved in the progression of several inflammatory diseases. Therefore, in this study, their potential effects on IL-2 expression were investigated in PHA/PMA-activated T-lymphocytic Jurkat cells. Cafestol and kahweol inhibited IL-2 production significantly in the cells. Furthermore, the treatments of cafestol inhibited the phosphorylation of signaling pathway molecules (ERK/c-fos), as well as IL-2 mRNA expression in the Jurkat cells. This study provided new information about cafestol found in coffee as a potential bioactive compound able to inhibit the expression of inflammatory cytokine IL-2 in activated T-cells.

Technical Abstract: Interleukin-2 (IL-2) from activated T-lymphocytes is critically involved in several inflammation-related diseases such as liver diseases and diabetes. Interestingly, a recent study suggests that coffee may contain several compounds to reduce IL-2 expression in activated T-lymphocytic cells. However, there is little information about the potential effects of several coffee compounds such as trigonelline, niacin, chlorogenic acids, cafestol and kahweol on IL-2 expression in T-lymphocytic cells. Therefore, in this paper, their effects on IL-2 expression were investigated in PHA/PMA-activated lymphocytic Jurkat cells. Among the tested compounds, only cafestol and kahweol reduced IL-2 production significantly in the cells (P < 0.05). Although both compounds were effective in reducing IL-2 production, cafestol was a little better in the reduction of IL-2 than kahweol. Furthermore, cafestol (= 20 µM) was able to inhibit the phosphorylations of ERK and c-fos (P < 0.05) with little effects on p38 and JNK phosphorylations. Subsequently, the inhibition of ERK/c-fos led to the reduction of IL-2 mRNA expression in the cells. Altogether, the data suggest that cafestol may be one of the coffee compounds able to reduce IL-2 production via inhibiting the phosphorylation of ERK/c-fos in PHA/PMA-activated lymphocytic Jurkat cells.