Glycerol monolaurate inhibition of human B cell activation

Abstract

Glycerol monolaurate (GML) is a naturally occurring antimicrobial agent used commercially in numerous products and food items. GML is also used as a homeopathic agent and is being clinically tested to treat several human diseases. In addition to its anti-microbial function, GML suppresses immune cell proliferation and inhibits primary human T cell activation. GML suppresses T cell activation by altering membrane dynamics and disrupting the formation of protein clusters necessary for intracellular signaling. The ability of GML to disrupt cellular membranes suggests it may alter other cell types. To explore this possibility, we tested how GML affects human B cells. We found that GML inhibits BCR-induced cytokine production, phosphorylation of signaling proteins, and protein clustering, while also changing cellular membrane dynamics and dysregulating cytoskeleton rearrangement. Although similar, there are also differences between how B cells and T cells respond to GML. These differences suggest that unique intrinsic features of a cell may result in differential responses to GML treatment. Overall, this study expands our understanding of how GML impacts the adaptive immune response and contributes to a broader knowledge of immune modulating monoglycerides.

Effects of dietary supplementation of glycerol monolaurate on laying performance, egg quality, antioxidant capacity, intestinal morphology and immune function in late-phase laying hens

“… Zhang et al (2016) found that GML treatment drastically altered the lipid phase dynamics in the plasma membrane of human T cells, consequently inhibiting TCR-induced PI3K-AKT signaling axis and calcium influx, and reducing the production of cytokines such as IL-2, IFN-γ, TNF-α, and IL-10. In another study, GML significantly suppressed the production of IL-6 and TNF-α cytokines in BCR-induced human primary B cells ( Fosdick et al, 2022 ). In the present study, our results showed that TLR4, IL-1β and TNF-α mRNA expressions in spleen as well as TLR4 and IL-6 in jejunum decreased linearly with the increase of dietary GML concentration.…”

Glycerol monolaurate regulates apoptosis and inflammation by suppressing lipopolysaccharide-induced ROS production and NF-κB activation in avian macrophages

“…Previous research has confirmed that GML can inhibit T-cell activation and suppress cytokine production, such as IL-2, interferon ( IFN )-γ, TNF-α, and IL-10, in a dosage-dependent manner ( Zhang et al, 2016 ). Glycerol monolaurate has also been shown to inhibit B cell receptor-induced cytokine production, phosphorylation of signaling proteins, and protein clustering ( Fosdick et al, 2022 ). Moreover, oral administration of GML inhibits the infiltration of macrophages and reduces the expression of proinflammatory factors, thereby contributing to the alleviation of experimental colitis in mice ( He et al, 2022 ).…”