Toll-like receptor 2-dependent activation of monocytes by Spirulina polysaccharide and its immune enhancing action in mice

Potential complementarity of high-flavanol cocoa powder and spirulina for health protection

“…The versatile heath protection associated with statin therapy or angiotensin II antagonism -seemingly greater than would be predicted from their hypolipidemic or antihypertensive activities -may be largely attributable to their down-regulatory impacts on the NADPH oxidase activity of certain tissues. 60 Spirulina also is a source of polysaccharide that has immunostimulant activity (reflecting the activation of TLR2 receptors on macrophages), [61][62][63] and is very rich in zeaxanthin, a dietary carotenoid that has been linked to decreased risk for macular degeneration. 64 A recent open clinical trial reports worthwhile reductions in blood pressure and improvements in blood lipid profile in healthy volunteers receiving 4.5 g spirulina daily; this suggests that spirulina-bound PCB may have good oral bioavailability in humans.…”

Microalgae and Immune Potential

“…The ex vivo production of IgA and IL-6 from Peyer's patch cells was enhanced two fold and (IFN-g) production from spleen cells was increased four fold in immulina treated mice. Oral consumption of this polysaccharide can enhance components within both the mucosal and systemic immune systems (21). Ingestion of S. platensis by men for more than a year enhanced salivary S-IgA levels while treatment for less than a year had no effect.…”

“…NF-κB activation by Immulina is suppressed by antibodies to CD14 and TLR2 but not by antibodies to TLR4. Similarly, NF-κB directed luciferase expression was enhanced by Immulina treatment when cells were cotransfected with vectors expressing proteins supporting TLR2-(CD14 and TLR2) but not TLR4-(CD14, TLR4, and MD-2) dependent activation (21). In addition to Immulina, there are several other microalgae which produce polysaccharides with immunomodulating activities especially on the macrophages (Table 27.1).…”

Proliferation and Differentiation of Hematopoietic Cells and Preservation of Immune Functions

“…Phyco-CM induced TNFproduction in the culture supernatants of U937 and HL-60 cells. A high molecular weight polysaccharide, Immulina, from Spirulina was a potent activator of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB) and induced both IL-1 and TNF-mRNAs in THP-1 human monocytes (Pugh et al, 2001), and expression of TLR2 and CD14 probably contributed to the NF-κB activation and immune enhancing activity of the Immulina in mice (Balachandran et al, 2006). The levels of TNF-, however, were not further increased with LPS stimulation (1000 ng/mL) in the U937 cells stimulated with phyco-CM.…”