title: Immunostimulatory effects of collagen from jellyfish in vivo.
abstract: We focused on the biological activity of the collagen extracts obtained from the giant edible jellyfish, Nemopilema nomurai. Jellyfish collagen extracts stimulates the production of immunoglobulins (Igs) and cytokines by human hybridoma cells and human peripheral blood lymphocytes. Therefore, we examined the immunoregulatory function of jellyfish collagen extracts in mice. Intake of jellyfish collagen extracts facilitated the Ig production activity of lymphocytes from spleen and Peyer's patch. Furthermore, the levels of Igs in the serum clearly increased after the administration of jellyfish collagen extracts. Intake of bovine collagen from Achilles' tendon also activated lymphocytes activity in mice. The activity of total and antigen-specific Ig production in splenocytes from OVA-challenged mice was also enhanced by collagen intake. However, the total and OVA-specific IgE levels in the serum were not affected by the collagen intake. These results suggested that jellyfish collagen extracts stimulates an immune response in vivo, without inducing allergic complications.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Agriculture, Ehime University, 3-5-7 Tarumi, Matsuyama, Ehime, 790-8566, Japan.
authors.forename: Hitoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Morishige
authors.forename: Takuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sugahara
authors.forename: Sogo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nishimoto
authors.forename: Ayako
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Muranaka
authors.forename: Fumi
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ohno
authors.forename: Ryusuke
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Shiraishi
authors.forename: Mikiharu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Doi