Immunomodulatory and antiviral activity of almond skins.
The elimination of a viral infection requires a proinflammatory host response (type 1 immunity), characterized by activation of mononuclear cells and production of proinflammatory cytokines, such as interferons (IFNs), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and interleukin (IL)-12. On the other hand, IL-4 and IL-10 play a role in decreasing the inflammatory response supported by helper T (Th)1 cells. In this study we evaluated the effects of almond skins on the release of cytokines by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), either infected or not with herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2). Natural (NS) and blanched almond skins (BS) were subjected to simulated gastric and duodenal digestion and used at not cytotoxic concentrations. NS induced a significant decrease in HSV-2 replication, whereas extracts obtained from BS did not significantly influence the viral replication. High levels of cytokines production, such as IFN-alpha (38+/-5.3 pg/ml), IL-12 (215+/-17.1 pg/ml), IFN-gamma (5+/-0.7 IU/ml), TNF-alpha (3940+/-201.0 pg/ml), were detected. Moreover, IL-10 (210+/-12.2 pg/ml) and IL-4 (170+/-21.4 pg/ml), representative of Th2 responses, were found. Our data suggest that almond skins improve the immune surveillance of PBMC towards viral infection, both by triggering the Th1 and Th2 subsets.
Arena
Adriana
A
Unit of Clinical Microbiology, Policlinico Universitario, 98100 Messina, Italy.
Bisignano
Carlo
C
Stassi
Giovanna
G
Mandalari
Giuseppina
G
Wickham
Martin S J
MS
Bisignano
Giuseppe
G
D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000821:virology; D018258:Herpesvirus 2, Human / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology*; D027861:Prunus / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016207:Cytokines; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D010936:Plant Extracts