7 research outputs found
Pure flavonoid epicatechin and whole genome gene expression profiles in circulating immune cells in adults with elevated blood pressure: A randomised double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial
<div><p>Cocoa consumption has beneficial cardiometabolic effects, but underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Epicatechin, the cocoa major monomeric flavan-3-ol, is considered to contribute to these cardio-protective effects. We investigated effects of pure epicatechin supplementation on gene expression profiles of immune cells in humans. In a double blind, placebo-controlled cross-over trial, 32 (pre)hypertensive subjects aged 30 to 80, received two 4-week interventions, i.e. epicatechin (100mg/day) or placebo with a 4-week wash-out between interventions. Gene expression profiles of peripheral blood mononuclear cells were determined before and after both interventions. Epicatechin regulated 1180 genes, of which 234 differed from placebo. Epicatechin upregulated gene sets involved in transcription and tubulin folding and downregulated gene sets involved in inflammation, PPAR signalling and adipogenesis. Several negatively enriched genes within these gene sets were involved in insulin signalling. Most inhibited upstream regulators within the epicatechin intervention were cytokines or involved in inflammation. No upstream regulators were identified compared to placebo. Epicatechin, a cocoa flavan-3-ol, reduces gene expression involved in inflammation, PPAR-signalling and adipogenesis in immune cells. Effects were mild but our findings increase our understanding and provide new leads on how epicatechin rich products like cocoa may affect immune cells and exert cardiometabolic protective effects.</p></div
Gene sets significantly downregulated within the epicatechin intervention (epicatechin) and between intervention arms (epicatechin versus placebo).
<p>Gene sets significantly downregulated within the epicatechin intervention (epicatechin) and between intervention arms (epicatechin versus placebo).</p
Flow diagram showing the number of genes of which the expression was changed after 4-week epicatechin or placebo supplementation and the number of genes that significantly changed in expression between the epicatechin or placebo intervention.
<p>A change was considered significant if two-sided <i>P</i><0.05.</p
Expression heat map of contributing genes within the downregulated gene sets involved in inflammation, PPAR signalling, AMPK signalling and adipogenesis.
<p>Subjects were hierarchically clustered via the complete agglomeration method. Expression changes are indicated as individual signal-log-ratios (SLR) of T = 4 weeks versus T = 0 weeks. Down-regulation or up-regulation of gene expression is presented on a colour scale, ranging from green (downregulated, SLR ≤-0.25) to red (upregulated, SLR ≥ 0.25).</p
Effects of epicatechin and placebo supplementation on markers of cardiometabolic health of the 32 participants included in the microarray analysis.
<p>Effects of epicatechin and placebo supplementation on markers of cardiometabolic health of the 32 participants included in the microarray analysis.</p
Gene sets significantly upregulated within the epicatechin intervention (epicatechin) and between intervention arms (epicatechin versus placebo).
<p>Gene sets significantly upregulated within the epicatechin intervention (epicatechin) and between intervention arms (epicatechin versus placebo).</p
Baseline characteristics of 32 untreated (pre)hypertensive healthy subjects included in the microarray analysis.
<p>Baseline characteristics of 32 untreated (pre)hypertensive healthy subjects included in the microarray analysis.</p