title: Grape seed extract activates Th1 cells in vitro.
abstract: Although flavonoids manifest a diverse range of biological activities, including antitumor and antiviral effects, the molecular mechanisms underlying these activities await elucidation. We hypothesize that the flavonoid constituents of a proprietary grape seed extract (GSE) that contains procyandins exert significant antiviral and antitumor effects, by inducing production of the Th1-derived cytokine gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) by peripheral blood mononuclear cells) from healthy donors. Our results show that GSE significantly induced the transcription of IFN-gamma mRNA as demonstrated by reverse transcription-PCR but had no effect on the Th2-derived cytokine interleukin-6. The enhancing effect of GSE on IFN-gamma expression was further supported by a concomitant increase in the number of cells with intracytoplasmic IFN-gamma as well as the synthesis and secretion of IFN-gamma. Our results demonstrate that the potentially beneficial immunostimulatory effects of GSE may be mediated through the induction of IFN-gamma.
authors.affiliation: Division of Allergy, Immunology, and Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, State University of New York at Buffalo and Kaleida Health, 14203, USA.
authors.forename: Narayanan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nair
authors.forename: Supriya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mahajan
authors.forename: Ram
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chawda
authors.forename: Chithan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kandaswami
authors.forename: Thomas C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Shanahan
authors.forename: Stanley A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Schwartz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000235:genetics; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000235:genetics; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000276:immunology* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000276:immunology; D027843:Vitis
chemical_list: D015850:Interleukin-6; D010936:Plant Extracts; D007371:Interferon-gamma