Immunostimulating activity of the lipopolysaccharides of blue-green algae
Besednova NN, Smolina TP, Mikheiskaia LV, Ovodova RG.
Russia
The whole cells of blue-gree algae and lipopolysaccharides isolated from these cells were shown to stimulate the production of macro-(mainly) and microglobulin antibodies in rabbits. The macro- and microphage indices in rabbits increased significantly after the injection of LPS isolated from blue-green algae 24--48 hours before infecting the animals with a virulent Y. pseudotuberculosis strain. Besides, the inhibiting action of this strain on the migration of phagocytes to the site of infection was abolished immediately after the injection. The use of the indirect hemagglutination test allowed to prove the absence of close antigenic interrelations between blue-green algae and the following organisms: Spirulina platensis, Microcystis aeruginosa, Phormidium africanum and P. uncinatum.
PUB: Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol. 1979 Dec;(12):75-9.
Effects of polysaccharide and phycocyanin from spirulina on peripheral blood and hematopoietic system of bone marrow in mice.
Zhang Cheng-Wu, et al.. April 1994, China.
Nanjing Univ. China.
C-phycocyanin and polysaccharide were isolated and purified from spirulina. By using the techniques of colony forming unit-erythroid (CFU-E) culture of fetal liver cells in mice in vitro, C-phycocyanin was found to possess high erythropoietin (EPO) activity. Per 12.5ng C-phycocyanin matched with 850mu EPO. The effects of polysaccharide and phycocyanin on the periphyeral blood and bone marrow hematopoietic stem and progentitor cell in normal, irradiated and anemic mice were studied. These studies demonstrate the unique capacity of C-phycocyanin and polysaccharide to influence the differentation and proliferation of committed hematopoietic progenitor cell. Stimulated recovery by C-phycocyanin and polysaccharide was observed in leukocyte and bone marrow nucleated cell counts and the number of CFU-GM colony formation in mice after single whole-body gamma-ray irradiation. The C-phycocyanin and polysaccharide can lower the anemic degree of mice combined with treatment of gamma-ray irradiation and benzohydrazine hydrochloric acid peritonerl injection.
PUB: Proc. of Second Asia Pacific Conf. on Algal Biotech. Univ. of Malaysia. p.58.
Enhancement of antibody production in mice by dietary Spirulina platensis.
Hayashi O, Katoh T, Okuwaki Y.
Department of Health and Nutrition, Kagawa Nutrition University, Sakado, Japan.
Mice fed a Spirulina platensis diet showed increased numbers of splenic antibody-producing cells in the primary immune response to sheep red blood cells (SRBC). However, immunoglobulin G (IgG)-antibody production in the secondary immune response was hardly affected. The percentage of phagocytic cells in peritoneal macrophages from the mice fed S. platensis diet, as well as the proliferation of spleen cells by either concanavalin A (Con A) or phytohemagglutinin (PHA) was significantly increased. Addition of a hot-water extract of S. platensis (SHW) to an in vitro culture of spleen cells markedly increased proliferation of these cells, whereas culture of thymus cells was scarcely affected. The Spirulina extract also significantly enhanced interleukin-1 (IL-1) production from peritoneal macrophages. Addition to the in vitro spleen cell culture of SHW as well as the supernatant of macrophages stimulated with SHW resulted in enhancement of antibody production, that is, an increase of the number of PFC. These results suggest that Spirulina enhances the immune response, particularly the primary response, by stimulating macrophage functions, phagocytosis, and IL-1 production.
PUB: J Nutr Sci Vitaminol (Tokyo). 1994 Oct;40(5):431-41.
Immune enhancement potential of spirulina in chickens
M. Qureshi, et al. August 1994. Poultry Science Assoc. Dept. of Poultry Science, North Carolina State, NC, USA.
Effects of spirulina on the immune function of chickens were examined. Macrophage cultures treated with a water soluble extract of spirulina exhibited enhanced phagocytosis and induced tumorcidal factor secretion. In the second study, 0, 10, 100 and 10,000ppm spirulina in corn/soy diets were fed to Leghorn chickens. Larger thyus glands, higher NK activity and CBH response were observed in the 10,000ppm spirulina treated chickens. Percent phagocytic macrophages and secondary antibody response were also greater than non-treated chickens. The data suggests spirulina exposure improves immune performance of chickens without adversely affecting other performance characteristics.
PUB: Journal of Poultry Science Vol 73, S1. p.46.
Spirulina extracts enhances chicken macrophage functions after in vitro exposure
M. Qureshi, et al. 1995, USA.
The effects of spirulina platensis extract exposure on chicken macrophages were examined. Sephadex-elicited abdominal exudate macrophage monolayers were exposed to varying concentration (10 to 40 mcg/ml) of spirulina for 1 to 16 hours. Spirulina treated macrophages exhibited phenotypic changes in terms of increased spreading and vacuolization with minimal cytotoxicity. Percentage of phagocytic macrophages for unopsonized sheep red blood cells (SRBC) and average number of internalized SRBC was significantly higher in spirulina treated macrophages as compared to the sham treated controls. However, phagocytosis of opsonized SRBC was not effected by spirulina treatment. Macrophage cultures exposed to spirulina produced a factor in their culture supernant with tumorcidal potential which was similar in reactivity to the one produced by macrophages after exposure to lipopolysaccharide. The ability of splenic natural killer cells to kill tumor cell targets was not affected by spirulina treatment. These findings suggest that spirulina exposure enhances selected effector functions of cells of the chicken immune system after in vitro exposure.
PUB: Jour. Nutritional Immunology, No. 3 (4) 35-45.
Immunomodulary effects of spirulina supplementation in chickens
M. Qureshi, et al. May 1995. North Carolina State, USA.
Chicken macrophages exposed to a water-soluble spirulina extract show enhanced phagocytic activity in vitro suggesting activation of mononuclear phagocytic system function. Furthermore, dietary supplementation of Spirulina (1,000 ppm to 10,000 ppm) improved thymic weights, enhanced CBH response, increased tumor cell killing by NK cells and doubled the macrophage phagocytic potential over chickens fed a basal diet. Chicks on 1,000 ppm Spirulina diet cleared significantly more E. Coli from circulation at 30 and 40 minutes post i.v. inoculation. Similiar reduction was seen in clearing bacteria from spleen after 80 minutes post i.v. inoculation of Staph. Aureus in chicks fed 10,000 ppm over controls. Chicks in groups from 1,000 ppm to 16,000 ppm Spirulina treatments showed enhanced CBH response. Chicks in 1,000 ppm group exhibited enhanced E. Coli clearance between 30 to 60 minutes and decreased splenic bacterial counts at 80 minutes post inoculation. These studies imply Spirulina enhances several immunological end points in chickens both during in vitro and in in vivo exposures.
PUB: Proc. of 44th Western Poultry Disease Conference, pp 117-120.
Study on effect and mechanism of polysaccharides of spirulina on body immune function improvement
G. Baojiang, et al. April 1994, China.
South China Normal Univ. China.
Polysaccharides of spirulina, at the dosage of 150-300 mg/kg, by injection or taking orally, can increase the phagocyte percentage and phagocytic index of abdominal macrophage, the percentage of T-lymphocyte and haemolysin content in the peripheral blood of mouse. These results demonstrate polysaccharides can improve both the nonspecific function of cellular immunity and the specific humoral immunity. The mechanism seems related to the fact that polysaccharides can enhance reproductive ability of marrowcyte, growth of thymus and spleen, biosynthesis of serum protein, and that polysaccharide can eliminate the inhibition effect of inhibitive circular phosphamide on immune system of body.
PUB: Proc. of Second Asia Pacific Conf. on Algal Biotech. Univ. of Malaysia. pp 33-38.
Immune response activation in channel catfish ictaluras punctatus fed spirulina enriched artemia
B. Portoni et al. 1996, USA.
American Fisheries Society Fish Health Section.
The cyanobacteria spirulina is commercially produced for human consumption as well as agricultural feed ingredients. Recently, whole spirulina and cell extracts were found to enhance immunity in animals by increasing phagocytic activity. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of spirulina enhanced diet on the nonspecific immune response of channel catfish, ictaluras punctatus. The sample population consisted of "young of the year" channel catfish obtained from Fish Producers, Niland, CA. Fish (50/tank) were maintained in glass aquaria equiped with undergravel filters. All fish were fed a diet of Trout Starter Diet (Rangen, Inc) for a month until they were large enough to ingest adult brine shrimp (artemia franciscana). The control diet consisted of adult brine shrimp. The test diet consisted of adult brine shrimp biencapsulated with spirulina. Adult brine shrimp were allowed to feed on dried spirulina powder for 3-4 hours to maximize bioencapsulation. Preliminary studies indicated that channel catfish fed spirulina had an increase in the number of splenic macrophages determined by esterase staining compared to controls. Not only were more macrophages present in the spleen, but also the macrophages appeared activated. Activation determined by morphology on scanning electron microscopy, was characterized by the presence of numerous folds and ruffles. This research was performed on a single population of catfish over a period of months. While data suggests nonspecific immunostimulation elicited by spirulina in the diet, further study on different populations of fish is underway to confirm the preliminary data.
Class specific influence of dietary Spirulina platensis on antibody production in mice.
Hayashi O, Hirahashi T, Katoh T, Miyajima H, Hirano T, Okuwaki Y.
Department of Health and Nutrition, Kagawa Nutrition University, Sakado, Japan.
In the present study, we investigated antibody productions of IgA and other classes, such as IgE and IgG1, in mice as possible evidence of the protective effects of Spirulina toward food allergy and microbial infection. An increase of IgE antibody level in the serum was observed in the mice that were orally immunized with crude shrimp extract as an antigen (Ag group). The antibody level, however, was not further enhanced by treatment with Spirulina extract (SpHW). IgG1 antibody, on the other hand, which was increased by antigen administration, was further enhanced by Spirulina extract. It was noted that the IgA antibody level in the intestinal contents was significantly enhanced by treatment with Spirulina extract concurrently ingested with shrimp antigen, in comparison with that of the Ag group treated with shrimp antigen alone. An enhancement of IgA antibody production by Spirulina extract was also observed in culture supernatant of lymphoid cells, especially in the spleen and mesenteric lymph node from mice treated with Spirulina extract for 4 weeks before antigen stimulation. These results suggest that Spirulina may at least neither induce nor enhance allergic reaction such as food allergy dependent on an IgE antibody, and that when ingested both concurrently with antigen and before antigen stimulation, it may significantly enhance the IgA antibody level to protect against allergic reaction.
PUB: J Nutr Sci Vitaminol (Tokyo). 1998 Dec;44(6):841-51.
Enhancement of chicken macrophage phagocytic function and nitrite production by dietary Spirulina platensis.
Al-Batshan HA, Al-Mufarrej SI, Al-Homaidan AA, Qureshi MA.
Department of Animal Production, College of Agriculture, King Saud University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The effects of dietary Spirulina platensis on chicken macrophage phagocytic function and nitrite production were examined. Day old broiler (meat-type) chicks were randomly assigned to various pens of electrically heated wire batteries. Dietary treatment groups included a basal diet with no dietary Spirulina added, and three additional groups with 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0% dietary Spirulina. Feed and water were provided for ad libitum consumption from one day of age. Sephadex-elicited macrophages were harvested at 14, 35 and 42 days of age. Phagocytosis assay was performed by co-incubating sheep red blood cells (SRBC) with the adherent macrophage monolayers. For nitrite quantification, macrophage cultures from various dietary treatment groups were stimulated in the presence or absence of 1 microg/mL of Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide. These culture supernatant fractions were then tested for nitrite levels using the Greiss reagent technique. All Spirulina dietary group macrophages exhibited an enhanced phagocytic activity in terms of overall phagocytic percentage (range = 28 to 39% versus 24 to 25% in the basal group) and the average number of SRBC per phagocytic macrophage (range = 2.2 to 3.6 versus 1.8 to 2.5 in the basal group). This increase was linear with each incremental increase of dietary Spirulina. While LPS-induced nitrite levels in macrophages from basal diet group ranged from 60 to 278 microM over the three developmental ages, these levels in all Spirulina dietary groups were significantly higher (0.5% group range = 198 to 457 microM; 1.0% group range = 161 to 359 microM and 2.0% group range = 204 to 420 microM. These data clearly show that Spirulina platensis feeding upregulates macrophage phagocytic as well as metabolic pathways leading to increased nitric oxide synthase activity. These findings therefore imply that Spirulina platensis may enhance the functions of mononuclear phagocytic system thereby increasing the disease resistance potential in chickens.
PUB: Immunopharmacol Immunotoxicol. 2001 May;23(2):281-9.
Effect of polysaccharide from Spirulina platensis on hematopoietic cells proliferation, apoptosis and Bcl-2 expression in mice bearing tumor treated with chemotherapy
Liu XM, Zhang HQ.
Medical and Pharmacological Institute of Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China.
AIM: To evaluate the effect of polysaccharide from Spirulina platensis (PSP) on hematopoietic cell proliferation, apoptosis and Bcl-2 expression in mice bearing tumor treated with chemotherapy. METHODS: The model of chemotherapy for transplant solid tumor in mice was established. The hematopoietic cell proliferation, apoptosis, Bcl2 expression and related cytokines were assayed by the technique of culture of hematopoietic progenitor cell, fluoromicroscope and light microscope, immunohistochemical method, and double antibody sandwich ELISA. RESULTS: PSP significantly ameliorated CFU-GM proliferation inhibition and hematopietic cells apoptosis induced by CTX. Moreover, PSP evidently increased the content of IL-1, IL-3, GM-CSF and TNF-alpha in serum and Bcl-2 expression of hematopoietic cells. CONCLUSION: PSP indirectly upregulated Bcl-2 expression of hematopoietic cells by promoting endogenous cytokines secretion which may be one of the mechanisms, by which PSP enhanced hematopoietic cell proliferation and inhibited its apoptosis in mice bearing tumor treated with chemotherapy.
PUB: Yao Xue Xue Bao. 2002 Aug;37(8):616-20.
Protective effect of Spirulina fusiformis on chemical-induced genotoxicity in mice.
Premkumar K, Abraham SK, Santhiya ST, Ramesh A.
Department of Genetics, Dr. ALM Post Graduate Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Madras, Taramani, India.
Spirulina fusiformis given by oral route to mice at doses of 250, 500 and 1000 mg kg(-1) significantly inhibit the genotoxicity induced by cisplatin and urethane. In addition, a significant reduction in the extent of lipid peroxidation with concomitant increase in the liver enzymatic (GPx, GST, SOD, CAT) and non-enzymatic (reduced glutathione) antioxidants were observed.
PUB: Fitoterapia. 2004 Jan;75(1):24-31.
Phycocyanin enhances secretary IgA antibody response and suppresses allergic IgE antibody response in mice immunized with antigen-entrapped biodegradable microparticles.
Nemoto-Kawamura C, Hirahashi T, Nagai T, Yamada H, Katoh T, Hayashi O.
Department of Health and Nutrition, Kagawa Nutrition University, Chiyoda, Sakado, Japan.
In the present study, we have investigated the effects of phycocyanin, a biliprotein of Spirulina platensis, on mucosal and systemic immune responses and allergic inflammation in C3H/HeN and BALB/cA mice. To induce the antigen-specific antibodies in the peripheral lymphoid tissues such as Peyer's patches and mesenteric lymph nodes, biodegradable ovalbumin-entrapped poly (DL-lactide-co-glycolide) particles were used as an antigen. Two weeks after the onset of phycocyanin ingestion, mice were immunized with an aqueous ovalbumin (OVA) solution. Starting at one week after the primary immunization, the mice were subjected to oral immunization with the biodegradable OVA microparticles twice a week. IgA, IgE and IgG1 antibodies were determined by ELISA. The OVA microparticles of 4-microm diameter successfully induced antigen-specific antibodies. In the mice that received phycocyanin treatment for 6 wk, a marked increase in the antigen-specific, as well as the total, IgA antibody level was observed in the Peyer's patches, mesenteric lymph nodes and intestinal mucosa as well as in the spleen cells. Both antigen-specific IgG1 and IgE antibody levels in the serum were suppressed by ingestion of phycocyanin for 8 wk. However, inflammation of the small intestine, monitored as vascular permeability by the Evans blue-leaking method was reduced by phycocyanin at 6 wk, which preceded the suppression of antigen-specific IgG1 and IgE antibody production by 2 wk. These results suggest that phycocyanin enhances biological defense activity against infectious diseases through sustaining functions of the mucosal immune system and reduces allergic inflammation by the suppression of antigen-specific IgE antibody.
PUB: J Nutr Sci Vitaminol (Tokyo). 2004 Apr;50(2):129-36.
Chemo- and radio-protective effects of polysaccharide of Spirulina platensis on hemopoietic system of mice and dogs.
Zhang HQ, Lin AP, Sun Y, Deng YM.
The Medical and Pharmaceutical Academe of Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China.
AIM: To observe polysaccharide of Spirulina platensis (PSp) on the hematopoietic system of mouse and dogs which were damaged by injection of cyclophosphamide (CTX) and 60Co-gamma irradiation. METHODS: CTX and 60Co gamma ray were used to induce bone marrow damage, and the experimental animals were ig with different dose of PSp in vivo, after 12-d and 21-d administration, the whole blood cells and nucleated cells in bone marrow were measured, and the DNA in bone marrow were inspected by UV-spectrophotometer. RESULTS: CTX and 60Co-gamma irradiation induced hemopoietic system damage in mice and dogs, respectively. PSp 30, 60 mg/kg increased the level of the white cells in blood and nucleated cells and DNA in bone marrow in mice but had no effects on red cells and hemoglobins. PSp 12 mg/kg increased the level of red cells, white cells, and hemoglobins in blood and nucleated cells in bone marrow in dogs (P < 0.01), and the effects of PSp 60 mg/kg were better than that of berbamine hydrochloride 60 mg/kg. CONCLUSION: PSp has chemo-protective and radio-protective capability, and may be a potential adjunct to cancer therapy.
PUB: Acta Pharmacol Sin. 2001 Dec;22(12):1121-4.
