title: Oral glucosylceramide reduces 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene induced inflammatory response in mice by reducing TNF-alpha levels and leukocyte infiltration.
abstract: Sphingolipids are constituents of cellular membranes and play important roles as second messengers mediating cell functions. As significant components in foods, sphingolipids have been proven to be critical for human health. Moreover, diverse metabolic intermediates of sphingolipids are known to play key roles both in proinflammatory and in anti-inflammatory effects. However, the effect of dietary sphingolipids on inflammation is a complicated field that needs to be further assessed. Our study evaluated the effects of orally administered maize glucosylceramide (GluCer), one of the most conventional dietary sphingolipids, on inflammation using the 2,4-dinitro-1-fluorobenzene-treated BALB/c murine model. Oral administration of GluCer inhibited ear swelling and leukocyte infiltration to the inflammatory site, suggesting that dietary GluCer has anti-inflammatory properties. ELISA analyses revealed that oral administration of GluCer for 6 days had not modified the Th1/Th2 balance, but significantly down-regulated the activation of TNF-α at the inflammatory site. Based on these results, the down-regulation of TNF-α by dietary GluCer may suppress vascular permeability and reduce the migration of inflammatory cells. Our findings increase understanding of the actions of dietary sphingolipids on the balance of the immune response.
authors.affiliation: Division of Applied Biosciences, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kitashirakawaoiwakecho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan.
authors.forename: Jingjing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Duan
authors.forename: Tatsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sugawara
authors.forename: Shota
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sakai
authors.forename: Kazuhiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Aida
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hirata
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004139:Dinitrofluorobenzene / Q000633:toxicity*; D005260:Female; D005963:Glucosylceramides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007249:Inflammation / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D005963:Glucosylceramides; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D004139:Dinitrofluorobenzene