Quercetin suppresses immune cell accumulation and improves mitochondrial gene expression in adipose tissue of diet‐induced obese mice

Abstract

ScopeTo examine the effect of dietary quercetin on the function of epididymal adipose tissue (EAT) in Western diet‐induced obese mice.Methods and resultsC57BL/6J mice were fed a control diet; a Western diet high in fat, cholesterol, and sucrose; or the same Western diet containing 0.05% quercetin for 18 weeks. Supplementation with quercetin suppressed the increase in the number of macrophages, the decrease in the ratio of CD4+ to CD8+ T cells in EAT, and the elevation of plasma leptin and tumor necrosis factor α levels in mice fed the Western diet. Comprehensive gene expression analysis revealed that quercetin suppressed gene expression associated with the accumulation and activation of immune cells, including macrophages and lymphocytes in EAT. It also improved the expression of the oxidative stress‐sensitive transcription factor NFκB, NADPH oxidases, and antioxidant enzymes. Quercetin markedly increased gene expression associated with mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation and mitochondrial DNA content.ConclusionQuercetin most likely universally suppresses the accumulation and activation of immune cells, including antiinflammatory cells, whereas it specifically increased gene expression associated with mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation. Suppression of oxidative stress and NFκB activity likely contributed to the prevention of the accumulation and activation of immune cells and resulting chronic inflammation.

Quercetin attenuates high fructose feeding-induced atherosclerosis by suppressing inflammation and apoptosis via ROS-regulated PI3K/AKT signaling pathway

“…It has been known as a multifactorial and progressive disease [1,3,30]. The dietary flavonoid quercetin is thought to promote health, partly due to its ability to act as an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant against ROS properties [15][16][17][18]. Consistent with previous studies, high doses of quercetin, especially at the 100 mg/kg, in our study showed similar effects on suppression of inflammation, apoptosis and oxidative stress [19,31].…”

“…Quercetin has beneficial effects on human health for its broad pharmacological properties, such as anti-inflammation and anti-oxidation [15,16]. In addition, quercetin down-regulated serum leptin and insulin levels, ameliorating leptin and insulin resistance via regulation of leptin and insulin signaling in the cell or tissue of animals [17,18].…”

The Effect of Onion Peel Extract on Inflammatory Mediators in Korean Overweight and Obese Women

“…Recently, Kim et al [14] reported that quercetin-rich OPE supplementation increased the adiponectin production at a transcription level in the high fat diet-induced obese animal model, suggesting that quercetin-rich OPE has modulatory effect on the inflammatory processes in obesity. Furthermore, quercetin increased levels of secreted adiponectin in TNF-α-treated 3T3-L1 adipocytes [25] as well as in obese Zucker rats [8] and diet-induced obese mice [26]. In the present study, adiponectin levels in placebo and OPE-treated groups were increased compared with baseline values.…”

“…The concentration of leptin is increased in inflammatory conditions in animal model [3031] and in rheumatoid arthritis patients [32]. In animal model, quercetin reduced both plasma leptin and expression of leptin in adipose tissue from mice fed the Western diet for 18 weeks [26]. However, we observed that neither placebo nor OPE supplementation significantly changed the concentration of leptin.…”

The Effects of Raw Red Onion Consumption on Serum Levels of Adiponectin, Leptin, and hs-CRP in Overweight/Obese Females with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome: A Randomized Controlled-Clinical Trial

“…In one study, QR increased levels of secreted adiponectin in tumor necrotising factor (TNF)-α-treated 3T3-L1 adipocytes (28) as well as in diet-induced obese rats (29). Furthermore, Kim et al (14) reported that quercetinrich onion peel extract (OPE) supplementation increased the transcriptional level of adiponectin expression in the high-fat diet-induced obese rats, suggesting that quercetin-rich OPE has modulatory effect on the inflammatory processes in obesity.…”