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Long Chain Inulin Enhances Mitogen‐stimulated Cytokine Production in Splenic and Mesenteric Lymph Node Cells of Growing Female Rats Independent of Zinc Status
Author(s) -
Ryz Natasha,
Taylor Carla
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.21.6.a1100-d
Subject(s) - weanling , spleen , mesenteric lymph nodes , cytokine , immune system , endocrinology , medicine , concanavalin a , inulin , interleukin 10 , biology , immunology , food science , biochemistry , in vitro
Prebiotics (PRE) have a beneficial effect on immune responses. Since PRE increase bifidobacteria in the colon and supplementation with Bifidobacterium animalis reduces intestinal damage in zinc deficient (ZD) rats, it is hypothesized that PRE may indirectly protect against immunosuppression due to ZD. Our objective was to determine if PRE alter cytokine secretion in ZD rats. Weanling female rats were fed a diet supplemented with 5% cellulose (CEL) or 5% long chain inulin (PRE) for 4 weeks. The rats continued on CEL or PRE diet ad libitum (ZN) or in restricted amounts (DR), or deficient in zinc (ZD) for another 4 weeks. Interleukin (IL)‐2, IL‐10 and interferon gamma (IFN‐γ) were measured in the supernatant from concanavalin A stimulated immune cells from the spleen and mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN). At 8 weeks, PRE enhanced the production of IL‐2, IL‐10 and IFN‐γ in both the spleen and MLN compared to CEL, but there was no effect of ZD or DR on cytokine production compared to ZN. In summary, PRE enhanced cytokine secretion in the spleen and MLN of growing female rats regardless of dietary zinc intake or malnutrition status. [Funding from NSERC & ARDI]