Improvement of murine immune functions in vitro by thioproline.
Previous studies have shown that several immune functions were improved in mice after the ingestion of a thioproline (thiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid) enriched diet. In the present work, we have studied the in vitro effects of several concentrations of this thiol compound (0.1, 0.5, 1, 2.5 and 5 mM) on the most relevant functions of three pivotal immune cells, namely, macrophages, lymphocytes, and natural killer (NK) cells from BALB/c mice. The results show that thioproline stimulates the phagocytic process of macrophages, increasing the mobility directed to the inflammatory focus (chemotaxis) and the phagocytosis of inert particles. It increases the adherence and the chemotaxis capacities of lymphocytes, their proliferative activity and favours the natural cytotoxic activity that could improve the capacity to destroy malignant cells. Thioproline concentrations of 0.5 and 1 mM were the most effective regarding the different functions analysed. These results suggest that the improvement of immune functions, observed in previous work, after thioproline-enriched diet ingestion is due to a direct action of this thiol compound on immune cells.
Correa
R
R
Department of Animal Physiology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Complutense University, Madrid, Spain.
Del Río
M
M
De La Fuente
M
M
D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002633:Chemotaxis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D013844:Thiazoles / Q000494:pharmacology*; D053778:Thiazolidines
D000975:Antioxidants; D013844:Thiazoles; D053778:Thiazolidines; C003438:thiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid