Intake of a milk-based wolfberry formulation enhances the immune response of young-adult and aged mice.
Aging is associated with alterations of immune responses. Wolfberry, a popular Chinese functional ingredient, is prized for its anti-aging properties; however, little is known about the immunological effect of wolfberry intake. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of dietary intake of a milk-based formulation of wolfberry, named Lacto-Wolfberry, on in vivo and ex vivo parameters of adaptive immunity in young-adult and aged mice. Over 44 days, young-adult (2 months) and aged (21 months) C57BL/6J mice were fed ad libitum with a controlled diet and received drinking water supplemented or not with 0.5% (wt/vol) Lacto-Wolfberry. All mice were immunized on day 15 and challenged on day 22 with a T cell- dependent antigen, keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH). Lacto-Wolfberry supplementation significantly increased in vivo systemic immune markers that are known to decline with aging. Indeed, both antigen-(KLH) specific humoral response and cell-mediated immune responses in young-adult and aged mice were enhanced when compared to their respective controls. No significant effect of Lacto-Wolfberry supplementation was observed on ex vivo spleen cells proliferative response to mitogens and on splenocyte T cell subsets. In conclusion, dietary intake of Lacto-Wolfberry may favorably modulate the poor responsiveness to antigenic challenge observed with aging.
Vidal
Karine
K
Nutrition and Health Department, Nestlé Research Center, Lausanne, Switzerland. karine.vidal@rdls.nestle.com
Benyacoub
Jalil
J
Sanchez-Garcia
José
J
Foata
Francis
F
Segura-Roggero
Iris
I
Serrant
Patrick
P
Moser
Mireille
M
Blum
Stephanie
S
D000375:Aging / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D000941:Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D001835:Body Weight; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005526:Food, Formulated; D006433:Hemocyanins / Q000276:immunology; D006968:Hypersensitivity, Delayed / Q000276:immunology; D007109:Immunity / Q000276:immunology*; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000276:immunology; D056724:Immunity, Humoral / Q000276:immunology; D032305:Lycium / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008892:Milk / Q000276:immunology*; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology
D000941:Antigens; D006433:Hemocyanins; C032808:keyhole-limpet hemocyanin