Anti-allergic activity of R-phycocyanin from Porphyra haitanensis in antigen-sensitized mice and mast cells.
The prevalence of food allergy has increased in Asian countries. Marine algae have been proposed as the potential resource for anti-allergic therapeutics. The present study was aimed at isolating R-phycocyanin (RPC) from Porphyra haitanensis and determining the anti-allergy potential of RPC in antigen-sensitized mice and mast cells. In animal experiments, RPC could effectively reduce tropomyosin (TM)-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) and histamine levels, alleviate allergy symptoms and jejunum tissue inflammation in mice, and inhibit the expression and release of cytokines (interleukin-4 (IL-4) and IL-13) in peritoneal lavage fluid. In spleen lymphocyte experiments, high purity of RPC skewed the immunological function of CD4(+) T cells towards Th1 activity. A higher expression of interferon (IFN)-γ was induced by a synergistic effect of TM and RPC. Through the Jun N-terminal kinase and Janus kinase 2 signaling pathways, IFN-γ synthesis was induced by RPC in combination with TM. Anti-allergic effect of RPC was evaluated in IgE-mediated rat mast RBL-2H3 cells. The results demonstrated that RPC inhibited allergy markers, including the release of β-hexosaminidase, histamine and ROS in antigen-sensitized RBL-2H3 cells. RPC also suppressed the production of pro-inflammatory factors (IL-4 and tumor necrosis factor-α). In conclusion, RPC decreased allergic sensitization against TM by blocking Th2 cell polarization as well as suppressed the release of allergic-mediators in antigen-stimulated mast cells. It may be used as a functional food component or active pharmaceutical ingredient for allergic patients.
College of Food and Biological Engineering, Fujian Collaborative Innovation Center for Exploitation and Utilization of Marine Biological Resources, Jimei University, 43 Yindou Road, Xiamen, 361021 Fujian, PR China.
Qingmei
Q
Liu
College of Food and Biological Engineering, Fujian Collaborative Innovation Center for Exploitation and Utilization of Marine Biological Resources, Jimei University, 43 Yindou Road, Xiamen, 361021 Fujian, PR China.
Youzhao
Y
Wang
College of Food and Biological Engineering, Fujian Collaborative Innovation Center for Exploitation and Utilization of Marine Biological Resources, Jimei University, 43 Yindou Road, Xiamen, 361021 Fujian, PR China.
Minjie
M
Cao
Department of Biochemical Science and Technology, College of Life Science, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Sec. 4, Roosevelt Road, Taipei 10617, Taiwan.
Tzuming
T
Pan
College of Food and Biological Engineering, Fujian Collaborative Innovation Center for Exploitation and Utilization of Marine Biological Resources, Jimei University, 43 Yindou Road, Xiamen, 361021 Fujian, PR China.
Yang
Y
Yang
College of Food and Biological Engineering, Fujian Collaborative Innovation Center for Exploitation and Utilization of Marine Biological Resources, Jimei University, 43 Yindou Road, Xiamen, 361021 Fujian, PR China.
Haiyan
H
Mao
College of Food and Biological Engineering, Fujian Collaborative Innovation Center for Exploitation and Utilization of Marine Biological Resources, Jimei University, 43 Yindou Road, Xiamen, 361021 Fujian, PR China.
Lechang
L
Sun
College of Food and Biological Engineering, Fujian Collaborative Innovation Center for Exploitation and Utilization of Marine Biological Resources, Jimei University, 43 Yindou Road, Xiamen, 361021 Fujian, PR China. Electronic address: gmliu@jmu.edu.cn.
Guangming
G
Liu
D000818:Animals; D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000941:Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D002460:Cell Line; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D006632:Histamine / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D007583:Jejunum / Q000276:immunology; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010798:Phycocyanin / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D044664:Porphyra; D051381:Rats; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology; D014335:Tropomyosin / Q000276:immunology
D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents; D000941:Antigens; D016207:Cytokines; D014335:Tropomyosin; D010798:Phycocyanin; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D006632:Histamine
Anti-allergic activity; Murine model; Porphyra haitanensis; R-phycocyanin; RBL-2H3 cell; Th2 immune response