Open AccessEuglena gracilis paramylon activates human lymphocytes by upregulating pro‐inflammatory factors
Author(s) -
Russo Rossella,
Barsanti Laura,
Evangelista Valter,
Frassanito Anna M.,
Longo Vincenzo,
Pucci Laura,
Penno Giuseppe,
Gualtieri Paolo
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
food science and nutrition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.614
H-Index - 27
ISSN - 2048-7177
DOI - 10.1002/fsn3.383
Subject(s) - phagocytosis , euglena gracilis , transactivation , lipopolysaccharide , immune system , microbiology and biotechnology , downregulation and upregulation , chemistry , proinflammatory cytokine , biology , inflammation , biochemistry , transcription factor , immunology , gene , chloroplast
The aim of this study was to verify the activation details and products of human lymphomonocytes, stimulated by different β ‐glucans, that is Euglena paramylon, MacroGard ® , and lipopolysaccharide. We investigated the gene expression of inflammation‐related cytokines and mediators, transactivation of relevant transcription factors, and phagocytosis role in cell‐glucan interactions, by means of RT ‐ PCR , immunocytochemistry, and colorimetric assay. Our results show that sonicated and alkalized paramylon upregulates pro‐inflammatory factors ( NO , TNF ‐ α , IL ‐6, and COX ‐2) in lymphomonocytes. A clear demonstration of this upregulation is the increased transactivation of NF ‐ kB visualized by immunofluorescence microscopy. Phagocytosis assay showed that internalization is not a mandatory step for signaling cascade to be triggered, since immune activity is not present in the lymphomonocytes that have internalized paramylon granules and particulate MacroGard ® . Moreover, the response of Euglena β ‐glucan‐activated lymphomonocytes is much greater than that induced by commercially used β ‐glucans such as MacroGard ® . Our in vitro results indicate that linear fibrous Euglena β ‐glucan, obtained by sonication and alkaline treatment can act as safe and effective coadjutant of the innate immune system response.