Intestinal immune system of young rats influenced by cocoa-enriched diet.
Gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT) maintains mucosal homeostasis by counteracting pathogens and inducing a state of nonresponsiveness when it receives signals from food antigens and commensal bacteria. We report for the first time the influence of continuous cocoa consumption on GALT function in rats postweaning. Weaned Wistar rats were fed cocoa-enriched diets (4% or 10% food intake) for 3 weeks. The function of the primary inductive sites of GALT, such as Peyer's patches (PP) and mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN), was evaluated through an analysis of IgA-secretory ability and lymphocyte composition (T, B and natural killer cells), activation (IL-2 secretion and IL-2 receptor alpha expression) and proliferation. T-helper effector cell balance was also established based on cytokine profile (interferon gamma, IL-4 and IL-10) after mitogen activation. A 10% cocoa intake induced significant changes in PP and MLN lymphocyte composition and function, whereas a 4% cocoa diet did not cause significant modifications in either tissues. Cocoa diet strongly reduced secretory IgA (S-IgA) in the intestinal lumen, although IgA's secretory ability was only slightly decreased in PP. In addition, the 10% cocoa diet increased T-cell-antigen receptor gammadelta cell proportion in both lymphoid tissues. Thus, cocoa intake modulates intestinal immune responses in young rats, influencing gammadelta T-cells and S-IgA production.
Department of Physiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain.
Emma
E
Ramiro-Puig
Department of Physiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain.
Francisco J
FJ
Pérez-Cano
Department of Physiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain.
Sara
S
Ramos-Romero
Department of Physiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain.
Teresa
T
Pérez-Berezo
Department of Physiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain.
Cristina
C
Castellote
Department of Nutrition and Food Science, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain.
Joan
J
Permanyer
Department of Physiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain.
Àngels
À
Franch
Department of Nutrition and Food Science, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain.
Maria
M
Izquierdo-Pulido
Department of Physiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain.
Margarida
M
Castell
D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D002099:Cacao; D002455:Cell Division; D016207:Cytokines / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D004032:Diet; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D007071:Immunoglobulin A, Secretory / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000378:metabolism; D007422:Intestines / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000276:immunology*; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D008221:Lymphoid Tissue / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008643:Mesentery; D010581:Peyer's Patches / Q000276:immunology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014886:Weaning
D016207:Cytokines; D007071:Immunoglobulin A, Secretory; D018664:Interleukin-12