title: Cranberry extract standardized for proanthocyanidins promotes the immune response of Caenorhabditis elegans to Vibrio cholerae through the p38 MAPK pathway and HSF-1.
abstract: Botanicals are rich in bioactive compounds, and some offer numerous beneficial effects to animal and human health when consumed. It is well known that phytochemicals in cranberries have anti-oxidative and antimicrobial activities. Recently, an increasing body of evidence has demonstrated that cranberry phytochemicals may have potential benefits that promote healthy aging. Here, we use Caenorhabditis elegans as a model to show that water-soluble cranberry extract standardized to 4.0% proanthocyanidins (WCESP), a major component of cranberries, can enhance host innate immunity to resist against Vibrio cholerae (V. cholerae; wild type C6706 (O1 El Tor biotype)) infection. Supplementation of WCESP did not significantly alter the intestinal colonization of V. cholerae, but upregulated the expression of C. elegans innate immune genes, such as clec-46, clec-71, fmo-2, pqn-5 and C23G10.1. Additionally, WCESP treatment did not affect the growth of V. cholerae and expression of the major bacterial virulence genes, and only slightly reduced bacterial colonization within C. elegans intestine. These findings indicate that the major components of WCESP, including proanthocyanidins (PACs), may play an important role in enhancing the host innate immunity. Moreover, we engaged C. elegans mutants and identified that the p38 MAPK signaling, insulin/IGF-1 signaling (IIS), and HSF-1 play pivotal roles in the WCESP-mediated host immune response. Considering the level of conservation between the innate immune pathways of C. elegans and humans, the results of this study suggest that WCESP may also play an immunity-promoting role in higher order organisms.
authors: Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, United States of America.
authors: Jessica
authors: J
authors: Dinh
authors: Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, United States of America.
authors: Joseph T
authors: JT
authors: Angeloni
authors: Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, United States of America.
authors: Daniel B
authors: DB
authors: Pederson
authors: Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, United States of America.
authors: Xiaoxia
authors: X
authors: Wang
authors: Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, United States of America; Institute for Engaged Aging, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, United States of America.
authors: Min
authors: M
authors: Cao
authors: Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, United States of America; Institute for Engaged Aging, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, United States of America.
authors: Yuqing
authors: Y
authors: Dong
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000187:drug effects*; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000096:biosynthesis; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry; D044945:Proanthocyanidins / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D029799:Vaccinium macrocarpon / Q000737:chemistry; D014734:Vibrio cholerae / Q000187:drug effects / Q000472:pathogenicity; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D010936:Plant Extracts; D044945:Proanthocyanidins; D014157:Transcription Factors; C474710:heat shock factor-1, C elegans; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases