Ex-vivo study shows apigenin reduces inflammation in intestinal mucosa, suggesting dietary flavonoids may help manage IBD.
Key Points
This study aims to investigate the effects of the dietary flavonoid apigenin on human intestinal inflammation in the context of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD).
Colonic and small bowel mucosal explants from patients with Crohn's disease and controls were treated with apigenin.
Differential gene expression was assessed using RNA-sequencing and pathway enrichment analyses.
Cytokine levels in explant supernatants were measured by ELISA after treatment with apigenin.
Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were stimulated and analyzed for cytokine production in the presence of apigenin.
Human intestinal organoids were utilized to study inflammatory responses to apigenin.
Apigenin treatment significantly altered the expression of 2708 genes in mucosal explants.
Treatment led to reduced levels of cytokines IL6, IL8, IL1β, and CXCL1 in ileal mucosal explants, with statistical significance.
Colonic explants showed a significant decrease in IL6 but not other cytokines under treatment.
Cytokine secretion inhibition rates varied significantly across individuals, ranging from 0% to 79%.
Apigenin also notably decreased cytokine production in stimulated PBMCs.