title: Effects of polyphenols and lipids from Pennisetum glaucum grains on T-cell activation: modulation of Ca(2+) and ERK1/ERK2 signaling.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pearl millet (PM), i.e., Pennisetum glaucum, is widely grown in Africa and known for its anti-oxidant and anti-hyperlipidemic properties.
  
  
  METHODS
  The P. glaucum grains were obtained from the region of Ouled Aïssa (South of Algeria). We assessed the effects of phenolic compounds and lipids, extracted from seeds of P. glaucum, on rat lymphocyte proliferation, activated by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate and ionomycin. In order to explore signaling pathway, triggered by these compounds, we assessed interleukin-2 (IL-2) mRNA expression and extracellular signal-regulated kinase-1/2 (ERK1/ERK2) phosphorylation. Finally, we determined increases in free intracellular Ca(2+) concentrations, [Ca(2+)]i, by employing Fura-2/AM in rat lymphocytes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The composition of P. glaucum grains in polyphenols was estimated to be 1660 µg gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/g. Lipids represented 4.5 %, and more than 72% of the fatty acids belonged to unsaturated family. Our investigation showed that both lipid and phenolic compounds inhibited mitogen-induced T-cell proliferation. Compared with phenolic compounds, lipids exerted weaker effects on ERK-1/ERK2 phosphorylation and Ca(2+) signaling in mitogen-activated T-cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We conclude that the immunomodulatory effects of P. glaucum could be contributed by its phenolic and lipid contents.
authors.affiliation: University of Adrar, National Road n°06, Adrar, 01000, Algeria.|Laboratory of Natural Products, Abou-bekr Belkaid University, Tlemcen, 13000, Algeria.|INSERM U866, Université de Bourgogne, 21000, Dijon, France.
authors.forename: Abdelhafid
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nani
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Natural Products, Abou-bekr Belkaid University, Tlemcen, 13000, Algeria.
authors.forename: Meriem
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Belarbi
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire des Plantes Extrêmophiles, Centre de Biotechnologie de Borj-Cédria, Hammam-lif, 2050, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Wided
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ksouri-Megdiche
authors.affiliation: INSERM U866, Université de Bourgogne, 21000, Dijon, France.
authors.forename: Souleymane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Abdoul-Azize
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Natural Products, Abou-bekr Belkaid University, Tlemcen, 13000, Algeria.
authors.forename: Chahid
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Benammar
authors.affiliation: INSERM U866, Université de Bourgogne, 21000, Dijon, France.
authors.forename: François
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ghiringhelli
authors.affiliation: INSERM U866, Université de Bourgogne, 21000, Dijon, France.
authors.forename: Aziz
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hichami
authors.affiliation: INSERM U866, Université de Bourgogne, 21000, Dijon, France. naim.khan@u-bourgogne.fr.
authors.forename: Naim Akhtar
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Khan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002523:Edible Grain / Q000737:chemistry; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D008055:Lipids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 / Q000378:metabolism; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D031782:Pennisetum / Q000737:chemistry; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology; D059808:Polyphenols / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D012639:Seeds; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D008055:Lipids; D010936:Plant Extracts; D059808:Polyphenols; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3; D002118:Calcium