Abstract
The objective of this study was to determine the immunomodulatory effects of egg yolk protein–water extract (EYW) on splenocyte proliferation, cytokine secretion, immunoglobulin production, and NK cell cytotoxic activity in BALB/c mice. The forced swimming test (FST) was used to provide a model for suppressing immune regulation. The proliferation of B cells in the EYW supplementation group was significantly increased from the level to which it was reduced by the FST (from 40.9% to 81.8%, p < 0.05). EYW supplementation affected cytokine secretion of splenocytes. Levels of interleukin (IL)-2 and IL-10—as Th1 and Th2 cytokines, respectively—were decreased after the FST. However, EYW supplementation showed that secretion levels of these cytokines were significantly increased to pre-FST levels (p < 0.05). The production of immunoglobulins (IgA and IgG) was increased abnormally after the FST, whereas EYW supplementation significantly decreased it to pre-FST levels (p < 0.05). EYW supplementation also improved NK cell cytotoxic activity against YAC-1 tumor cells compared to the PC group (p < 0.05). These data suggest that EYW has potential as an immunomodulatory agent in the food and/or pharmaceutical industries.
Highlights
Immune regulation plays an important role in the immune system for disease prevention and treatment [1]
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of egg yolk–water extract (EYW) on proliferation, Th1/Th2 cell cytokine regulation, immunoglobulin production, and natural killer (NK) cell cytotoxic activity in primary splenocytes obtained from BALB/c mice with induced immune dysfunction caused by forced swimming
Murine ELISA kits for cytokine analysis were purchased from Bio Biosciences Co. (San Diego, CA, USA), while kits for immunoglobulin analysis were purchased from Immunology Consultants Laboratory Inc., (Portland, OR, USA)
Summary
Immune regulation plays an important role in the immune system for disease prevention and treatment [1]. Impairment of immunity is expressed by marked susceptibility to pathogenic organisms. There is an increased risk of diseases such as allergy, malignancy, and autoimmune diseases [2]. Several pharmaceuticals, including dexamethasone, vincristine, and levamisole, can be used to control immune responses [5]. When using these pharmaceuticals in long-term therapy, there are unintended side effects, such as nausea, vomiting, high blood pressure, and stroke [6,7]. Intake of nutritional and functional foods is recommended in order to achieve healthy immune regulation.
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