title: Immunomodulatory and antiviral activity of almond skins.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Unit of Clinical Microbiology, Policlinico Universitario, 98100 Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Adriana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Arena
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bisignano
authors.forename: Giovanna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Stassi
authors.forename: Giuseppina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mandalari
authors.forename: Martin S J
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Wickham
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bisignano
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016207:Cytokines; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D010936:Plant Extracts