Assessing the balance of genotoxic and protective effects by flavonoids in human cells and development of a novel protein nanochip to monitor protection

• Antragstellerin: Professorin Dr. Beatrice L. Pool-Zobel (†)
• Fachliche Zuordnung: Pharmakologie
• Förderung: Förderung von 2003 bis 2006
• Projektkennung: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Projektnummer 5403817

Polyphenols are probably healthy food ingredients on account of their antioxidant activities and their properties to modulate phase I and II enzymes in way that results in cellular chemoresistance. In blood lymphocytes from humans consuming juices with anthocyanins or catechins, however, we first observed a decreased expression of glutathione S-transferate p, followed by an induction of the protein. This implies that there is an inital vulnerability followed by enhanced protection due to the juice consumption. Obviously, it is necessary to understand the consequences of these contrasting effects in humans.Therefore, we will perform kinetic mechanistic studies on positive and negative impacts of flavonoids in human lymphocytes and develop an antibody-based nanochip to quantify expression of selected phase II proteins for biomarker studies. For this we will investigate how two mixtures of polyphenols modulate the biotransformation system. We will determine the expression levels of glutathione S-transferases (GSTs), quinone reductase (QR) or UDP-glucuronosyl-transferase (UGT), as functional markers of the cells' detoxification capacities and compare baseline levels before and after treatment with polyphenols.

• DFG-Verfahren: Sachbeihilfen
• Beteiligte Person: Professor Dr. Karl Otto Greulich