Annatto tocotrienol attenuates NLRP3 inflammasome activation in macrophages

Teresa Buckner, Rong Fan, Yongeun Kim, Jiyoung Kim, Soonkyu Chung

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

13 Scopus citations

Abstract

Accumulating evidence suggests that aberrant innate immunity is closely linked to metabolic diseases, including type 2 diabetes. In particular, activation of the NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome and subsequent secretion of interleukin 1β (IL-1β) are critical determinants that precipitate disease progression. The seeds of annatto (Bixa orellana L.) contain tocotrienols (T3s), mostly (.90%) in the d form (δT3). The aim of this study was to determine whether annatto T3 is effective in attenuating NLRP3 inflammasome activation in macrophages. Our results showed that annatto δT3 significantly attenuated NLRP3 inflammasome by decreasing IL-1β reporter activity, IL-1β secretion, and caspase-1 cleavage against lipopolysaccharide (LPS) followed by nigericin stimulation. With regard to mechanism, annatto δT3 1) reduced LPS-mediated priming of the inflammasome and 2) dampened reactive oxygen species production, the second signal required for assembly of the NLRP3 inflammasome in macrophages. Our work suggests that annatto δT3 may hold therapeutic potential for delaying the onset of NLRP3 inflammasome-associated chronic metabolic diseases.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article numbere000760
JournalCurrent Developments in Nutrition
Volume1
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 1 2017

Keywords

  • Annatto
  • Delta-tocotrienol
  • IL-1β
  • NLRP3 inflammasome
  • ROS production

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Medicine (miscellaneous)
  • Food Science
  • Nutrition and Dietetics

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