Food derived carbonyl compounds affect basal and stimulated secretion of interleukin-6 and -8 in Caco-2 cells.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The carbonyl compounds methylglyoxal (MG) and glyoxal (G) are reactive intermediates generated in a variety of foods and beverages during processing and prolonged storage. AIM AND METHODS: We investigated direct effects of these compounds on intestinal cells determining the basal and stimulated secretion of IL-8 and IL-6 in vitro. RESULTS: MG or G induced a concentration dependent enhancement of IL-8 and IL-6 secretion compared to baseline levels. A co-incubation with pro-inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) or lipopolysaccharides (LPS) and increasing MG concentrations further enhanced IL-8 and IL-6 secretion. For G, however, this additive effect was only observed in TNF-alpha and IL-1beta treated cells, but not after co-incubation with LPS. CONCLUSION: These results suggest a pro-inflammatory effect of G and MG at high concentrations in human intestinal cells by stimulating IL-8 and IL-6 cytokine levels. Effects of G and MG in combination with other cytokines may negatively affect inflammatory processes.