Science Fair Open Library | Inspiring the World of Science 2015 | Volume 1 | Issue 1 | IAMI0615001004 Research Article Effects of Genistein on Cytokine Expression in Healthy Women Open Access Page 8 International Archives of Microbiology and Immunology Jones, Andrew B.S 1 , Palu, Maria R.N 2 , Sorenson, Matthew, Ph.D 2 , *Rajah, Talitha, Ph.D 1 Abstract Introduction Keywords: genistein, carcinogenesis, cytokines, inlammation, immunity Received: June 17, 2015 Accepted: August 17, 2015 Published: August 24, 2015 Edited by: Richard Schwartz, Ph.D. Professor, Associate Dean for Graduate Studies, College of Natural Science, Michigan State Uni- versity, 288 Farm Lane, Room 103, East Lansing, MI 48824-1115, Tel. 517-355-4474, Fax. 517-432-1054, Email: schwart9@cns.msu.edu 1 Department of Biological Sciences, DePaul University, 2325 North Clifton Avenue, Chicago, IL 60614 2 School of Nursing, DePaul University, 990 West Fullerton, Chicago IL 60614 Physiological cytokine concentrations within cells play a pivotal role in a diverse array of cellular functions, including the proliferation of lymphocytes, which impart a direct impact on an organism’s ability to detect and destroy mutations that can lead to carcinogenesis. Both lowered and elevated cytokine con- centrations have been found associated with the development of carcinogenesis [1, 2]. Of particular interest is whether soy pro- teins are capable of ameliorating cytokine production in such a manner as to directly impact carcinogenesis. To evaluate the in- luence of soy proteins on cytokine production, genistein, a soy component that mimics 17-β estradiol in the body, was tested at two concentrations: 1µM and at 100µM, to determine inluence on expression of different cytokines (GM-CSF, IFNγ, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-7, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12 (p70), IL-13 and IL-17) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Cytokines were classiied into several different groups based on their function systemically, these groups were denoted as pro-inlammatory, anti-inlammatory; B-cell producers, T-cell producers, both B-cell and T-cell producers; and inducers of migration and angiogenesis. Genistein’s effect on the expression of cytokines was pilot tested in the presence or absence of physiological levels of 17-β estra- diol stimulated conditions in 15 pre- and post-menopausal women either 45 years of age or older. Cytokine production was deter- mined through multiplex human cytokine array using commer- cially available kits. The concentration of all assayed cytokines was higher in the presence of the physiological concentrations of genistein, and lower in the presence of high concentrations of ge- nistein. 17-β Estradiol and genistein did not show any compound- ing effects on each other. This study though preliminary in nature, serves as a basis for future research regarding genistein’s impact on cytokine regulation and the relevance to cancer treatment. Phytoestrogens, such as the isolavone genistein, are known to have wide therapeutic effects in the body, both systemi- cally and on the cellular level in inhibiting cell proliferation and cell movement. The effects of genistein on the regulation of vari- ous cytokines is an important area of research due to the large in- crease in the quantity of soy consumed by Americans each year, with an estimated 4.076 billion bushels to be produced in the Unit- *Address for correspondence: Talitha T. Rajah, Ph.D. Associate Professor, DePaul University, Department of Biological Scienc- es, 2325 N. Clifton Ave, Chicago, IL 60614, Ph: 773-325-8006 , Fax: 773-325-7596 , Email: trajah@depaul.edu; rajahtt@gmail.com ed States between the iscal year (Sept. 1st ) of 2014-15 compared to 2.677 billion bushels produced in 2007 [3]. Within the human body, particularly in relationship to carcinogenesis, genistein’s physiological role is not yet well determined. Due to the function of cytokines in the body, which serve to regulate cellular inlammation, proliferation, and other auxil- iary mechanisms relating to normal cellular function, the relation- ship between cancer and cytokine concentrations intrinsically be- comes of interest. Several effects of cytokines have already been established in their relationship with cancer growth, such as the association of elevated levels of IL-6, IL-8 (inducer of migration and angiogenesis), IL-10 (anti-inlammatory), and TNFα (pro- inlammatory) with pancreatic cancer and the over-expression of IL-5 (B-cell producer) and IL-20 in patients diagnosed with mus- cle invasive bladder cancer [4]. Due to high variation in cytokine function, much attention to each individual cytokine is required before general conclusions regarding the speciic cytokine’s effect on cancer inhibition or proliferation can be made. In total, 13 cytokines were examined in this study. Each of the observed cytokines is known to be involved in a multitude of physiological processes. For the purpose of this study the cy- tokines were grouped together by their involvement in a common function that is often associated with carcinogenesis. Interleukins (IL) IL-1β, IL-17, tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), interferon γ (IFN-γ), and granulocyte-macrophage col- ony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) are accordingly classiied as pro-inlammatory agents [5, 6]. Frequent occurrences of local in- lammation of a speciic tissue are associated with increased risk of developing cancer for the given tissue, making inlammation a relevant bodily mechanism in regards to carcinogenesis. Inversely IL-10 is known to be involved with the reduction of inlammation in the body and was therefore classiied as the sole anti-inlamma- tory agent examined in this study, although it should be noted that IL-4 and IL-13 are also involved in inlammation reduction but to a lesser extent than IL-10 [7]. IL-6 was also tested under the same conditions as the other cytokines but was excluded from being classiied into a speciic group as it is understood to be involved in inducing inlammation as well as inducing an anti-inlammation response [8]. Cellular mutations that could give rise to cancer are often eliminated through the body’s immune system, therefore proper