Cocoa Diet Prevents Antibody Synthesis and Modifies Lymph Node Composition and Functionality in a Rat Oral Sensitization Model.
Cocoa powder, a rich source of polyphenols, has shown immunomodulatory properties in both the intestinal and systemic immune compartments of rats. The aim of the current study was to establish the effect of a cocoa diet in a rat oral sensitization model and also to gain insight into the mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN) activities induced by this diet. To achieve this, three-week-old Lewis rats were fed either a standard diet or a diet with 10% cocoa and were orally sensitized with ovalbumin (OVA) and with cholera toxin as a mucosal adjuvant. Specific antibodies were quantified, and lymphocyte composition, gene expression, and cytokine release were established in MLN. The development of anti-OVA antibodies was almost totally prevented in cocoa-fed rats. In addition, this diet increased the proportion of TCRγδ+ and CD103+CD8+ cells and decreased the proportion of CD62L+CD4+ and CD62L+CD8+ cells in MLN, whereas it upregulated the gene expression of OX40L, CD11c, and IL-1β and downregulated the gene expression of IL-17α. In conclusion, the cocoa diet induced tolerance in an oral sensitization model accompanied by changes in MLN that could contribute to this effect, suggesting its potential implication in the prevention of food allergies.
Department of Physiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain. marionacamps@ub.edu.|Nutrition and Food Safety Research Institute (INSA-UB), 08921 Santa Coloma de Gramenet, Spain. marionacamps@ub.edu.
Mariona
M
Camps-Bossacoma
Department of Physiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain. mariadelmar.abril@ub.edu.|Nutrition and Food Safety Research Institute (INSA-UB), 08921 Santa Coloma de Gramenet, Spain. mariadelmar.abril@ub.edu.
Mar
M
Abril-Gil
Department of Physiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain. ssaldana@ub.edu.|Nutrition and Food Safety Research Institute (INSA-UB), 08921 Santa Coloma de Gramenet, Spain. ssaldana@ub.edu.
Sandra
S
Saldaña-Ruiz
Department of Physiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain. angelsfranch@ub.edu.|Nutrition and Food Safety Research Institute (INSA-UB), 08921 Santa Coloma de Gramenet, Spain. angelsfranch@ub.edu.
Àngels
À
Franch
Department of Physiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain. franciscoperez@ub.edu.|Nutrition and Food Safety Research Institute (INSA-UB), 08921 Santa Coloma de Gramenet, Spain. franciscoperez@ub.edu.
Francisco J
FJ
Pérez-Cano
Department of Physiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain. margaridacastell@ub.edu.|Nutrition and Food Safety Research Institute (INSA-UB), 08921 Santa Coloma de Gramenet, Spain. margaridacastell@ub.edu.
Margarida
M
Castell
D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000502:physiology*; D001835:Body Weight; D000069956:Chocolate; D002772:Cholera Toxin / Q000276:immunology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004326:Drinking; D004435:Eating; D005419:Flavonoids; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D008198:Lymph Nodes; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets; D010047:Ovalbumin / Q000276:immunology*; D059808:Polyphenols; D051381:Rats; D014867:Water
D000906:Antibodies; D016207:Cytokines; D005419:Flavonoids; D059808:Polyphenols; D014867:Water; D010047:Ovalbumin; D002772:Cholera Toxin
Tγδ+ cells; cholera toxin; flavonoids; intestinal sensitization; nutraceutic; oral tolerance; ovalbumin; specific antibodies