Hot water extracts of Chlorella vulgaris improve immune function in protein-deficient weanling mice and immune cells.
The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of hot water extracts of Chlorella vulgaris (CVE) on a deteriorated immune function through utilization of a protein-energy malnutrition (PEM) diet. Unicellular algae, C. vulgaris, were used as biological response modifier. PEM is associated with decreased host immune defense. Male C57BL/6J mice, initially four weeks old, were fed for 8 days with standard diet or a PEM diet. Mice in the PEM diet group were orally administered 0.1 g/kg and 0.15 g/kg of CVE for the following week. Nutritional parameters such as the total protein, albumin, glucose, and interferon γ (IFN-γ) were increased in blood serum of the CVE-treated group compared with the non-treated group. The mononuclear cell numbers from spleen, superficial, and mesenteric lymph node were reduced in mice fed with PEM diet, but numbers from the spleen and superficial lymph node were increased by the CVE (0.1 and 0.15 g/kg) treatment. We also investigated the effect of CVE on the production of cytokines in human T-cell line, MOLT-4 cells, and primary cultured splenocytes. The CVE treatment significantly increased the production of both interleukin (IL)-2 and IL-4 compared with the media control, but did not affect the production of IFN-γ. These results suggest that CVE may be useful in improving the immune function.
College of Oriental Medicine, Institute of Oriental Medicine, Oriental Medical Science Center, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Hyo-Jin
HJ
An
Hong-Kun
HK
Rim
Hyun-Ja
HJ
Jeong
Seung-Heon
SH
Hong
Jae-Young
JY
Um
Hyung-Min
HM
Kim
D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002452:Cell Count; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D048408:Chlorella vulgaris / Q000737:chemistry*; D018753:Diet, Protein-Restricted; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000378:metabolism; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011488:Protein Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000378:metabolism; D013154:Spleen / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D014886:Weaning
D001786:Blood Glucose; D007376:Interleukin-2; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012709:Serum Albumin; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma