Effect of Tea Flavonols on Production of Interleukin-4 and Interleukin-5 of Helper T Cell

Abstract

We investigated the effects of tea flavonols on interleukin-4 (IL-4) and interleukin-5 (IL-5) production from murine type 2 helper T cell clone (Th2 clone). Th 2 clones activated with anti-CD 3 antibody were cultured with tea flavonols for 20 hours. Content of IL-4 or IL-5 in the culture supernatant was measured with enzyme immuno assay used anti-murine IL-4 or anti-murine IL-5 antibody. Kaempferol suppressedthe production of IL-4 and IL-5 at the concentration of 33.3 μg/ml. Quercetin suppressed the production of IL-4 at the same concentration. These flavonols had no cytotoxicity against Th 2 clones at the concentration of 33.3 μg/ml. Other flavonols did not affect cytokine production.