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)-1β or tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α-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 IκB kinase (IKK)-α/β, nuclear factor (NF)-κB p65, and IκB-α and degradation of IκB-α in the NF-κB pathway induced by IL-1β or TNF-α stimulation. Moreover, berteroin could inhibit signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT)3 phosphorylation in TNF-α-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-1β or TNF-α-stimulated HPDLCs. These results suggest that berteroin may decrease the production of inflammatory mediators in HPDLCs by suppressing the NF-κB pathway, and may also decrease the local reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in periodontal lesions by increasing the production of antioxidant enzymes.