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Coffee suppresses the differentiation of Th17 cells by inhibiting interleukin-6-induced phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3

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Abstract

Coffee is a commonly consumed beverage with potential health benefits. The consumption of coffee has been suggested to have beneficial effects on subclinical inflammation. T helper 17 (Th17) cells, which secrete IL-17, promote protective immunity against extracellular bacteria and fungi, mainly at mucosal surfaces. These cells also promote autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. In the present study, we demonstrated for the first time that coffee suppressed IL-6 plus transforming growth factor-beta-induced Th17 differentiation in vitro. Coffee also inhibited the IL-6-induced phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3, a cytokine-activated essential transcription factor in Th17 development. In order to determine whether daily coffee consumption affected the population of IL-17-producing cells in vivo, healthy mice were provided with 10 g/l coffee or decaffeinated coffee solution for 14 days. The frequency of IL-17-producing cells in both coffee and decaffeinated coffee drinking mice decreased slightly. These results suggest that the suppressive effects of coffee on Th17 differentiation may be useful for controlling unbalanced cytokine networks in autoimmune diseases.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge the financial supports rendered by the All Japan Coffee Association.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Chiba Institute of Science, 3 Shiomi-cho, Choshi, Chiba, 288-0025, Japan

    Yoshihiro Okamoto, Takazumi Hara, Asuka Itayama & Konomi Koike

Authors
  1. Yoshihiro Okamoto
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  2. Takazumi Hara
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  3. Asuka Itayama
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  4. Konomi Koike
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Correspondence to Yoshihiro Okamoto.

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The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Compliance with ethics requirements

The experiments described in this study comply with the institutional ethical guidelines for the care and use of laboratory animals of Chiba Institute of Science.

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Okamoto, Y., Hara, T., Itayama, A. et al. Coffee suppresses the differentiation of Th17 cells by inhibiting interleukin-6-induced phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3. Eur Food Res Technol 242, 1141–1148 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00217-015-2618-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00217-015-2618-4

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