The flavonoid cyanidin blocks binding of the cytokine interleukin-17A to the IL-17RA subunit to alleviate inflammation in vivo.

ABSTRACT: Cyanidin, a key flavonoid that is present in red berries and other fruits, attenuates the development of several diseases, including asthma, diabetes, atherosclerosis, and cancer, through its anti-inflammatory effects. We investigated the molecular basis of cyanidin action. Through a structure-based search for small molecules that inhibit signaling by the proinflammatory cytokine interleukin-17A (IL-17A), we found that cyanidin specifically recognizes an IL-17A binding site in the IL-17A receptor subunit (IL-17RA) and inhibits the IL-17A/IL-17RA interaction. Experiments with mice demonstrated that cyanidin inhibited IL-17A-induced skin hyperplasia, attenuated inflammation induced by IL-17-producing T helper 17 (T_H17) cells (but not that induced by T_H1 or T_H

SUBMITTER: Liu C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5520994 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature