Quercetin decreases sterile inflammation proteins NLRP3 and caspase 1 in clone-9 cell line damaged by hydrogen peroxide

Abstract

NLRP3 inflammasome is very important in liver diseases and is intimately linked to oxidative stress. Quercetin is a significant antioxidant and anti-inflammatory biological molecule. The aim of current study was to investigate the effects of quercetin on oxidative stress and NLRP3 and caspase-1 proteins involved in sterile inflammation induced by H2O2 in clone-9 cells. MTT, DCF-DA assays, immunocytochemical and fluorescence staining methods were used. After 24 h incubation with H2O2, the IC50 was found to be 278 mu M in clone-9 cells. The most effective dose of quercetin beside H2O2-associated damage was found to be 15 mu M. It was shown that 278 mu M of H2O2 caused pyknosis in cell nuclei, while 15 mu M of quercetin protected the cells from the pyknosis. Quercetin pretreatment was shown to reduce H2O2-induced ROS production significantly (p < 0.05). It was found that NLRP3 and caspase-1 immunoreactivity were increased in H2O2-treated groups and quercetin pretreatment reduced the expression of these proteins. According to the results, quercetin reduceses sterile inflammation proteins and H2O2-induced oxidative stress in clone-9 liver cells. Quercetin may be therapeutic in the treatment of liver and NLRP3 inflammasome based diseases. Quercetin can also be taken with food for prophylactic purposes.