Middleton E, Kandaswami C
Department of Medicine, State University of New York, Buffalo 14203.
Biochem Pharmacol. 1992 Mar 17;43(6):1167-79. doi: 10.1016/0006-2952(92)90489-6.
No doubt can remain that the flavonoids have profound effects on the function of immune and inflammatory cells as determined by a large number and variety of in vitro and some in vivo observations. That these ubiquitous dietary chemicals may have significant in vivo effects on homeostasis within the immune system and on the behavior of secondary cell systems comprising the inflammatory response seems highly likely but more work is required to strengthen this hypothesis. Ample evidence indicates that selected flavonoids, depending on structure, can affect (usually inhibit) secretory processes, mitogenesis, and cell-cell interactions including possible effects on adhesion molecule expression and function. The possible action of flavonoids on the function of cytoskeletal elements is suggested by their effects on secretory processes. Moreover, evidence indicates that certain flavonoids may affect gene expression and the elaboration and effects of cytokines and cytokine receptors. How all of these effects are mediated is not yet clear but one important mechanism may be the capacity of flavonoids to stimulate or inhibit protein phosphorylation and thereby regulate cell function. Perhaps the counterbalancing effect of cellular protein tyrosine phosphatases will also be found to be affected by flavonoids. Some flavonoid effects can certainly be attributed to their recognized antioxidant and radical scavenging properties. A potential mechanism of action that requires scrutiny, particularly in relation to enzyme inhibition, is the redox activity of appropriately configured flavonoids. Finally, in a number of cell systems it seems that resting cells are not affected significantly by flavonoids but once a cell becomes activated by a physiological stimulus a flavonoid-sensitive substance is generated and interaction of flavonoids with that substance dramatically alters the outcome of the activation process.
大量多样的体外实验以及一些体内实验观察结果表明，黄酮类化合物对免疫和炎症细胞的功能具有深远影响，这一点毋庸置疑。这些普遍存在于饮食中的化学物质很可能对免疫系统内的体内平衡以及构成炎症反应的次级细胞系统的行为产生显著的体内影响，但需要更多的研究来强化这一假说。充分的证据表明，特定的黄酮类化合物，取决于其结构，能够影响（通常是抑制）分泌过程、有丝分裂以及细胞间相互作用，包括对黏附分子表达和功能的可能影响。黄酮类化合物对分泌过程的影响提示了它们可能对细胞骨架成分的功能产生作用。此外，有证据表明某些黄酮类化合物可能影响基因表达以及细胞因子和细胞因子受体的产生与作用。所有这些影响是如何介导的尚不清楚，但一个重要的机制可能是黄酮类化合物刺激或抑制蛋白质磷酸化从而调节细胞功能的能力。也许还会发现细胞蛋白酪氨酸磷酸酶的平衡作用也会受到黄酮类化合物的影响。一些黄酮类化合物的作用肯定可归因于其公认的抗氧化和自由基清除特性。一种需要仔细研究的潜在作用机制，特别是与酶抑制相关的，是结构合适的黄酮类化合物的氧化还原活性。最后，在许多细胞系统中，似乎静息细胞不受黄酮类化合物的显著影响，但一旦细胞受到生理刺激而被激活，就会产生一种对黄酮类化合物敏感的物质，黄酮类化合物与该物质的相互作用会显著改变激活过程的结果。
