The soy isoflavone equol enhances antigen-specific IgE production in ovalbumin-immunized BALB/c mice.
Although an immunomodulatory role of the soy isoflavone genistein has been demonstrated, the effects of other soy isoflavones on induction of antigen (Ag)-specific immune responses are not known. In this study, we therefore investigated the effects of daidzein and equol on ovalbumin (OVA)-specific T cell and B cell responses in BALB/c mice. Mice that had been treated with 20 mg/kg equol showed a significantly higher level of OVA-specific IgE than control mice. Levels of interferon (IFN)-gamma and interleukin (IL)-4 production were not different between the control and equol groups. However, IL-13 production level in mice administered 20 mg/kg equol was significantly higher than that in control mice. Strong induction of OVA-specific IgE production by equol was also observed in ovariectomized BALB/c mice, suggesting that the immunomodulatory effect of equol is not affected by endogenous estrogen.
Sakai
Tohru
T
Department of Public Health and Applied Nutrition, Institute for Health Biosciences, The University of Tokushima, Tokushima, Japan. tohrus@nutr.me.tokushima-u.ac.jp
Furoku
Sakina
S
Nakamoto
Mariko
M
Shuto
Emi
E
Hosaka
Toshio
T
Nishioka
Yasuhiko
Y
Sone
Saburo
S
D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D060754:Equol; D004967:Estrogens / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000378:metabolism; D007114:Immunization; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018793:Interleukin-13 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007529:Isoflavones / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010047:Ovalbumin / Q000276:immunology; D010052:Ovariectomy; D048789:Phytoestrogens / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013025:Glycine max / Q000737:chemistry*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism*
C007610:4',7-dihydroxy-3,4-dihydroisoflavone; D004967:Estrogens; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D018793:Interleukin-13; D007529:Isoflavones; D048789:Phytoestrogens; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D060754:Equol; C004742:daidzein; D010047:Ovalbumin