Immune Netw.  2007 Jun;7(2):95-100. 10.4110/in.2007.7.2.95.

Immunomodulatory Effects of Callophyllis japonica Ethanol Extract on Dendritic Cells

• Kim MH
• Joo HG

• KMID: 2150632
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4110/in.2007.7.2.95

Abstract

BACKGROUND: A red seaweed, Callophyllis japonica has been traditionally eaten in the oriental area. In a recent study, it has been demonstrated that the ethanol extract of C. japonica have antioxidant activity. However, there are few studies about the effects of C. japonica on the function of immune cells. We investigated the immunomodulatory effects of C. japonica on the function of dendritic cells, the potent antigen-presenting cells.
METHODS
Bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (DCs) were used and the viability was measured by 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay and trypan blue exclusion test. Cytokine and nitric oxide (NO) levels were determined by using ELISA and Griess reagent, respectively. The expression levels of DC surface markers were measured by flow cytometric analysis.
RESULTS
C. japonica ethanol extract did not significantly affect the DCs viability and the IL-12 production from DCs, irrespective of the presence of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). In addition, it did not significantly change the expression of DC surface markers. However, C. japonica ethanol extract significantly inhibited the LPS-induced NO production and also increased the proliferation of allogeneic lymphocytes activated by DCs.
CONCLUSION
Our data suggests that C. japonica ethanol extract enhances the proliferation of allogeneic lymphocytes activated by DCs which is associated with inhibition of NO production from DCs induced by LPS.

Keyword

Callophyllis japonica; immunomodulatory effects; nitric oxide; dendritic cells

MeSH Terms

Antigen-Presenting Cells
Dendritic Cells*
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
Ethanol*
Interleukin-12
Lymphocytes
Nitric Oxide
Seaweed
Trypan Blue
Ethanol
Interleukin-12
Nitric Oxide
Trypan Blue