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Dietary wolfberry supplementation enhances protective effect of flu vaccine against influenza infection in aged mice
Author(s) -
Du Xiaogang,
Wang Junpeng,
Niu Xinli,
Smith Donald,
Vidal Karine,
Wu Dayong,
Meydani Simin Nikbin
Publication year - 2013
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.27.1_supplement.357.2
Subject(s) - cd80 , immune system , influenza vaccine , immunology , cd86 , antigen , medicine , cytokine , vaccination , splenocyte , biology , cd40 , t cell , in vitro , cytotoxic t cell , biochemistry
Current vaccines for influenza do not fully protect the aged against flu. Wolfberry, or goji berry, has been shown to improve immune response in the aged; however, it is not known if it would improve vaccine efficacy against influenza infection. Further, the underlying mechanisms are not known. Old mice were fed a diet containing 5% Lacto‐Wolfberry (LWB) for 30 d, immunized with the flu vaccine on days 31 and 52, and challenged with the influenza A/Puerto Rico/8/34. Results showed that LWB supplementation increased flu antibody titers and decreased influenza‐induced weight loss beyond that observed by vaccine alone (p<0.0001 for overall diet × vaccine interaction by ANOVA). Further in vitro mechanistic studies showed that wolfberry significantly enhanced maturation and activity of antigen presenting dendritic cells (DC) in aged mice, as measured by expression of cell surface markers CD40, CD80, CD86, and MHC‐II, their production of cytokine IL‐12 and TNF‐α, and endocytosis. Further, adoptive transfer of wolfberry extract‐treated bone marrow DC (loaded with OVA 323–339 ‐peptide) from the aged mice promoted splenocyte proliferation, and increased antigen‐specific IL‐4 and IFN‐γ production in CD4 + T cells. In summary, our data indicate that LWB supplementation significantly enhances flu vaccine efficacy, at least in part, through improving DC function in aged mice. Supported by the USDA contract #58–1950‐0–014.