Immunomodulatory activity of xanthohumol: inhibition of T cell proliferation, cell-mediated cytotoxicity and Th1 cytokine production through suppression of NF-κB

Abstract

Xanthohumol (XN), a prenylated chalcone present in hops (Humulus lupus L.) and beer, exhibits anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antiproliferative activity, but has not been studied for effects on T cell-mediated immune responses. Here we demonstrate that XN has profound immunosuppressive effects on T cell proliferation, development of IL-2 activated killer (LAK) cells, cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs), and production of Th1 cytokines (IL-2, IFN-γ and TNF-α). The suppression of these cell-mediated immune responses by XN was at, least in part, due to the inhibition of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) transcription factor through suppression of phosphorylation of IκBα, an inhibitor of NF-κB.

Keywords::

• Xanthohumol
• immunomodulation
• cytotoxic T lymphocytes
• cytokines
• NF-κB

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by NIH grant CA130948-01 to S.C.G.

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.