The effects of berteroin on inflammatory mediators and antioxidant enzymes expression in human periodontal ligament cells

Berteroin is a bioactive substance classified as an isothiocyanate found in cruciferous vegetables such as cabbage, arugula, and salad leaves. In this study, we aimed to determine whether berteroin exerts anti-inflammatory effects on human periodontal ligament cells (HPDLCs), a resident cells of periodontal tissue. Berteroin suppressed interleukin (IL)-1 beta or tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha-induced chemokines (C-C motif chemokine ligand (CCL)2, CCL20, C-X-C motif chemokine ligand (CXCL)10, IL-8, and IL-6) production and intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1 expression in HPDLCs. In addition, berteroin inhibited phosphorylation of I kappa B kinase (IKK)- alpha/ beta, nuclear factor (NF)- kappa B p65, and I kappa B- alpha and degradation of I kappa B- alpha in the NF-kappa B pathway induced by IL-1 beta or TNF- alpha stimulation. Moreover, berteroin could inhibit signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT)3 phosphorylation in TNF- alpha -stimulated HPDLC. Furthermore, berteroin increased the expression of the antioxidant enzymes, heme oxygenase (HO)-1 and NAD(P)H quinone dehydrogenase (NQO)1, in IL-1 beta or TNF- alpha -stimulated HPDLCs. These results suggest that berteroin may decrease the production of inflammatory mediators in HPDLCs by suppressing the NF-kappa B pathway, and may also decrease the local reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in periodontal lesions by increasing the production of antioxidant enzymes.