Role of histamine in the inhibitory effects of phycocyanin in experimental models of allergic inflammatory response

Abstract

It has recently been reported that phycocyanin, a biliprotein found in the blue-green microalgae Spirulina, exerts anti-inflammatory effects in some animal models of inflammation. Taking into account these findings, we decided to elucidate whether phycocyanin might exert also inhibitory effects in the induced allergic inflammatory response and on histamine release from isolated rat mast cells. In in vivo experiments, phycocyanin (100, 200 and 300mg/kg post-orally (p.o.)) was administered 1 h before the challenge with 1 microg of ovalbumin (OA) in the ear of mice previously sensitized with OA. One hour later, myeloperoxidase activity and ear edema were assessed. Phycocyanin significantly reduced both parameters. In separate experiments, phycocyanin (100 and 200 mg/kg p.o.) also reduced the blue spot area induced by intradermal injections of histamine, and the histamine releaser compound 48/80 in rat skin. In concordance with the former results, phycocyanin also significantly reduced histamine release induced by compound 48/80 from isolated peritoneal rat mast cells. The inhibitory effects of phycocyanin were dose dependent. Taken together, our results suggest that inhibition of allergic inflammatory response by phycocyanin is mediated, at least in part, by inhibition of histamine release from mast cells.

C-Phycocyanin ameliorates experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis and induces regulatory T cells

“…C-Pc, has significant antioxidant and radical scavenging properties [7,8], it inhibits mouse ear inflammation [9], prevents acetic acid induced rat colitis [10] and has anti-arthritic properties [11]. It also inhibits COX-2 [12,13], inflammatory allergic reactions [14], prostaglandins, leukotrienes [15] and TNF-alpha production [16].These actions are expected to improve EAE induced animals, mainly because Sp/C-Pc have been shown to restore the organic and functional neuronal damage linked to senility [17] and neurodegenerative disorders [18][19][20]. However, here we demonstrate an additional and probably more fundamental property of C-Pc, its ability to trigger Treg subset induction.…”

Phycocyanin Enhances Secretary IgA Antibody Response and Suppresses Allergic IgE Antibody Response in Mice Immunized with Antigen-Entrapped Biodegradable Microparticles

“…Remirez et al (23) reported that in rats phycocyanin prevents allergic dermatitis by inhibiting the release of histamine caused by compound 48/80, a histamine releaser. Romay et al (24) also reported that phycocya nin administration before application of arachidonic acid prevents the inflammatory edema in the ears of mice, reduces the production of prostaglandin E2 and leukotriene B4, and also inhibits the activity of cycloox ygenase, an enzyme that synthesizes prostaglandins …”

Cytoprotection in Multiple Sclerosis and Ischemic Stroke with C-Phycocyanin and Phycocyanobilin

“…These are linked−but not restricted− to their conventional anti-oxidant, free radical scavenging and anti-infl ammatory properties [9][10][11][12], such as the selective COX-2 enzyme inhibition [13,14], but also to the modulation of the expression of several genes linked to other biological processes [15]. In the anterior cerebral cortex of rats subjected to a global acute brain hypoperfusion, we have observed that a total of 93 genes were upregulated and 97 genes were down-regulated due to the therapeutic treatment of PCB.…”