ABSTRACT
The phycobiliproteins from Rhodophyta , R-phycoerythrin (R-PE) and C-phycocyanin (C-PC), have been shown to exert immunomodulatory effects. This study evaluated the effects of a Phorphyra columbina protein fraction (PF) and R-PE and C-PC on rat primary splenocytes, macrophages, and T-lymphocytes in vitro. PF featured various protein species, including R-PE and C-PC. PF showed mitogenic effects on rat splenocytes and was nontoxic to cells except at 1 g L(-1) protein. IL-10 secretion was enhanced by PF in rat splenocytes, macrophages, and especially T-lymphocytes, whereas it was markedly diminished by R-PE and C-PC. The production of pro-inflammatory cytokines by macrophages was inhibited. The effect of PF on IL-10 was evoked by JNK/p38 MAPK and NF-κB-dependent pathways in macrophages and T-lymphocytes. It was concluded that PF has immunomodulatory effects on macrophages and lymphocytes that appear to be predominantly anti-inflammatory via up-regulated IL-10 production and cannot be accounted for by R-PE and C-PC.
Subject(s)
Immunologic Factors/pharmacology , Phycobiliproteins/pharmacology , Phycocyanin/pharmacology , Phycoerythrin/pharmacology , Plant Extracts/pharmacology , Rhodophyta/chemistry , Animals , Anti-Inflammatory Agents/pharmacology , Cell Proliferation , Female , Interferon-gamma/metabolism , Interleukin-10/genetics , Interleukin-10/metabolism , Interleukin-1beta/metabolism , Interleukin-6/metabolism , JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases/metabolism , L-Lactate Dehydrogenase/analysis , Macrophages/immunology , Mitogens/pharmacology , NF-kappa B/metabolism , Phosphorylation , Phycobiliproteins/isolation & purification , Phycocyanin/isolation & purification , Phycoerythrin/isolation & purification , Rats , Rats, Wistar , Seaweed/chemistry , Spleen/cytology , Spleen/immunology , T-Lymphocytes/immunology , Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolism , Up-Regulation , p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases/metabolismABSTRACT
The marine environment represents a relatively untapped source of functional ingredients. Here we characterise a hydrolysate obtained from Phorphyra columbina (PcRH) and its effects on primary splenocytes, macrophages and T lymphocytes in vitro. Our product had a high degree of hydrolysis, due to the use of a mixture of endo-peptidase and exo-peptidase, and was enriched in Asp, Ala and Glu. PcRH had mitogenic effects on rat splenic lymphocytes. IL-10 secretion was enhanced by PcRH in splenocytes (235%), macrophages (150%) and in lymphocytes (472%), while the production of TNFα and other proinflammatory cytokines by macrophages was inhibited (15-75%), especially under lipopolysaccharide stimulation. The effect of the hydrolysate on IL-10 was evoked by JNK, p38 MAPK and NF-κB dependent pathways in T lymphocytes. We conclude that PcRH has immunomodulatory effects on macrophages and lymphocytes, activating NF-κB and MAPK dependent pathways, and predominantly inducing IL-10 production.