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Fir honeydew honey flavonoids inhibit TNF-α-induced MMP-9 expression in human keratinocytes: a new action of honey in wound healing

Archives of Dermatological Research volume 305, pages 619–627 (2013)Cite this article

Abstract

Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) appears to be a major protease responsible for the degradation of matrix and growth-promoting agents in chronic wounds. Honey has been successfully used for treating non-healing wounds associated with infections. However, the mechanisms of its action at the cellular level have remained poorly understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of fir honeydew honey on TNF-α-induced MMP-9 expression and secretion from human keratinocytes (HaCaT) and to identify the honey component(s) responsible for a discovered effect. A C18 solid-phase column was used for preparation of honey aqueous extract (HAE). Expression and production of MMP-9 by HaCaT cells were determined by reverse transcription-PCR, gelatine zymography and Western blot analysis using a polyclonal antibody against MMP-9. We found that HAE inhibited TNF-α-induced production of MMP-9 in keratinocytes in a dose-dependent manner at both the mRNA and protein levels. Apigenin and kaempferol, identified flavonoids in HAE, markedly inhibited MMP-9 production from HaCaT and epidermal keratinocytes. Taken together, fir honeydew honey, which contains certain flavonoids, prevents TNF-α-induced proteolytic activity in cutaneous inflammation. Thus, our findings provide clear evidence that honey may serve as a natural treatment for dermatological problems associated with a persistent inflammation.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Slovak Research and Development Agency under the Contract No. APVV-0115-11 and partially by the Operational Program of Research and Development and co-financed with the European Fund for Regional Development (EFRD). Grant: ITMS 26240220030: Research and development of new biotherapeutic methods and its application in some illnesses treatment.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Zoology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska Cesta 9, 84506, Bratislava, Slovakia

    Juraj Majtan, Jana Bohova & Zuzana Madakova

  2. Department of Microbiology, Slovak Medical University, Limbova 14, 83303, Bratislava, Slovakia

    Juraj Majtan & Viktor Majtan

  3. Research Group on Quality, Safety and Bioactivity of Plant Foods, Department of Food Science and Technology, CEBAS-CSIC, Campus de Espinardo, 30100, Murcia, Spain

    Rocio Garcia-Villalba & Francisco A. Tomas-Barberan

  4. Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA

    Tomas Majtan

  5. Institute of Chemistry, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska Cesta 9, 84538, Bratislava, Slovakia

    Jaroslav Klaudiny

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  1. Juraj Majtan
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  2. Jana Bohova
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  3. Rocio Garcia-Villalba
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Correspondence to Juraj Majtan.

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Majtan, J., Bohova, J., Garcia-Villalba, R. et al. Fir honeydew honey flavonoids inhibit TNF-α-induced MMP-9 expression in human keratinocytes: a new action of honey in wound healing. Arch Dermatol Res 305, 619–627 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00403-013-1385-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00403-013-1385-y

Keywords

  • Wound healing
  • Inflammation
  • Honey
  • Matrix metalloproteinase