Different roles of Nrf2 and NFKB in the antioxidant imbalance produced by esculetin or quercetin on NB4 leukemia cells

• Published in: Chemico-biological interactions 2018-10, Vol.294, p.158-166
• Main Authors: Rubio, Virginia, García-Pérez, Ana I., Herráez, Angel, Diez, José C.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antioxidants; Apoptosis; Esculetin; Hydrogen peroxide; Reactive oxygen species; Tert-butylhydroperoxide
• ISSN: 0009-2797; 1872-7786
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cbi.2018.08.015

Esculetin (6,7-dihydrocoumarin) and the flavonoid quercetin (3,5,7,3′,4′ pentahydroxyflavone) are compounds that could change the balance of redox homeostasis. NB4 leukemia cells were treated with 25 μM quercetin for 24 h and with esculetin at either 100 or 500 μM for different times. Quercetin increased the levels of pro-inflammatory NFkB p65 in the nucleus correspondingly reducing them in the cytosol. The levels of NFkB p65 decreased in the nucleus at high esculetin concentration treatments for long times (19 h), concomitantly increasing the levels of anti-inflammatory NFkB p50 in the nucleus. This could suggest formation of inhibitory p50 homodimers possibly related with anti-inflammatory response. Lipoxygenase expression was reduced either by esculetin or quercetin. A significant increase of Nrf2 in the nucleus of NB4 cells treated with 100 μM esculetin for 19 h was observed. Quercetin increased the levels of Nrf2 in the cytosol reducing them in the nucleus. Superoxide dismutase expression increased in NB4 cells treated with esculetin in contrast with quercetin. All these data support a relevant differential role for NFkB and Nrf2 in anti-inflammatory and redox response when apoptosis was induced by esculetin or quercetin in human leukemia NB4 cells. •Esculetin or quercetin differently affected NFkB levels in NB4 leukemia cells.•Nrf2 levels in nucleus and cytosol were also regulated by esculetin or quercetin.•Lipoxygenase expression was reduced either by esculetin or quercetin.•Superoxide dismutase was differently affected by esculetin or quercetin.•In NB4 cells, a distinct role for NFkB and Nrf2 in redox response can be stated.