Dendritic Cells Modulate Iron Homeostasis and Inflammatory Abilities Following Quercetin Exposure

Objective: To characterize the axis between quercetin exposure and iron extracellular transport that may explain polyphenol anti-inflammatory abilities.

Background: Fruits and vegetables are rich in plant polyphenols, whose consumption is encouraged in healthy dietary regimes due to their antioxidants and anti-inflammatory effects. These organic molecules exhibit numerous properties including phylochelation; the ability to complex metal ions, including highly reactive iron. Among polyphenols, we focused our attention on quercetin that previously demonstrated its ability to reduce dendritic cells (DCs) inflammatory cytokine secretion and antigen presentation following LPS exposure. Dendritic cell inflammatory response is also associated with modulation of several iron metabolism related genes.