Activation of the human innate immune system by Spirulina: augmentation of interferon production and NK cytotoxicity by oral administration of hot water extract of Spirulina platensis

AbstractTurmeric (Curcuma longa) is a widely used spice that has various biological effects, and aqueous extracts of turmeric exhibit potent antioxidant activity and anti-inflammatory activity. Bisacurone, a component of turmeric extract, is known to have similar effects. Oxidative stress and inflammatory cytokines play an important role in ethanol-induced liver injury. This study was performed to evaluate the influence of a hot water extract of C. longa (WEC) or bisacurone on acute ethanol-induced liver injury. C57BL/6 mice were orally administered WEC (20 mg/kg body weight; BW) or bisacurone (60 µg/kg BW) at 30 min before a single dose of ethanol was given by oral administration (3·0 g/kg BW). Plasma levels of aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase were markedly increased in ethanol-treated mice, while the increase of these enzymes was significantly suppressed by prior administration of WEC. The increase of alanine aminotransferase was also significantly suppressed by pretreatment with bisacurone. Compared with control mice, animals given WEC had higher hepatic tissue levels of superoxide dismutase and glutathione, as well as lower hepatic tissue levels of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances, TNF-α protein and IL-6 mRNA. These results suggest that oral administration of WEC may have a protective effect against ethanol-induced liver injury by suppressing hepatic oxidation and inflammation, at least partly through the effects of bisacurone.

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Oral Administration of Hot-water Extract of Tropical Brown Seaweed, Sargassum cristaefolium , to Enhance Immune Response, Stress Tolerance, and Resistance of White Shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei , to Vibrio parahaemolyticus

Journal of the World Aquaculture Society ◽

10.1111/jwas.12527 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 49 (5) ◽

pp. 877-888

Author(s):

Agung Sudaryono ◽

Diana Chilmawati ◽

Titik Susilowati

Keyword(s):

Immune Response ◽

Oral Administration ◽

Stress Tolerance ◽

Litopenaeus Vannamei ◽

Vibrio Parahaemolyticus ◽

Brown Seaweed ◽

Water Extract ◽

Hot Water ◽

White Shrimp ◽

Hot Water Extract

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SARS-CoV-2 and interferon blockade

Molecular Medicine ◽

10.1186/s10020-020-00231-w ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 26 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Betty Diamond ◽

Bruce T. Volpe ◽

Sonya VanPatten ◽

Yousef Al Abed

Keyword(s):

Immune Response ◽

Immune System ◽

Innate Immune System ◽

Neutralizing Antibodies ◽

Cytotoxic T Cells ◽

Adaptive Immune Response ◽

Innate Immune ◽

Interferon Production ◽

Therapeutic Implications ◽

Adaptive Immune

Abstract The response to viral infection generally includes an activation of the adaptive immune response to produce cytotoxic T cells and neutralizing antibodies. We propose that SARS-CoV-2 activates the innate immune system through the renin-angiotensin and kallikrein-bradykinin pathways, blocks interferon production and reduces an effective adaptive immune response. This model has therapeutic implications.

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