Location: Diet, Genomics and Immunology Laboratory
Project Number: 8040-51530-057-018-S
Project Type: Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Aug 13, 2020
End Date: Jul 11, 2022
Objective:
The objective of this agreement is to determine the immune modulatory effects of cruciferous-derived compounds Indole-3-carbinol (I3C) and 3’, 3’ diindolylmethane (DIM) using cell and animal models of inflammation.
Approach:
The cell culture model will be used to examine whether I3C and DIM's effects on immune cells is mediated through the AhR-dependent pathway. The human monocytic cell will be exposed to the physiological concentration of I3C or DIM and then stimulated with LPS as inflammatory stimuli. The effects of I3C or DIM on the LPS-induced increase in inflammatory cytokine mRNA and the protein level will be determined. To determine the role of AhR, a knockdown of the AhR expressed will be performed using siRNA, and the effects of AhR knockdown on I3C or DIM's modulatory effects on IL-1 beta will be assessed at the mRNA and protein level. Additionally, mouse models of inflammation will be used to elucidate effects of I3C and DIM on the immune system in-vivo.
