In vitro modulation of inflammatory cytokine and IgG levels by extracts of Perna canaliculus

BACKGROUND: Inflammation is a predominant characteristic of autoimmune diseases which is characterized by the increased expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Soon to be published work from our laboratory has shown that ingestion of Perna canaliculus prevents the development of autoimmune diseases such as Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis in laboratory animals. The current paper attempts to illustrate how Perna can alleviate inflammation by modulating inflammatory cytokines, cyclooxygenase enzymes and Immunoglobulin-G (IgG) levels. METHODS: In the present study, hydrochloric acid [HCl] and Tween-20 were used to develop extracts of Perna. These extracts were assayed for protein content. Increasing concentrations of these extracts were then tested in cell culture for modulation of inflammatory cytokine, cyclooxygenase enzymes and IgG levels. Parallel tests were run using an available glycogen extract of Perna as a comparison to our in-house laboratory preparations. RESULTS: Tween-20 Perna extracts were found to be more stable and less toxic in cell culture than HCl digest of Perna. They also assayed higher in protein content that HCl extracts. Although both extracts inhibited IgG production in V2E9 hybridomas, Tween-20 extracts were more consistent in IgG suppression than HCl extracts. Overall Tween-20 extracts effectively decreased levels of TNF-α, IL-1, IL-2 and IL-6 as observed using cytokine bioassays. Twenty micrograms of Tween-20 Perna extracts induced such significant decreases in inflammatory cytokine production that when tested on sensitive cell lines, they very nearly abolished the decrease in viability induced by these cytokines. Tween-20 extracts effectively inhibited both COX-1 and COX-2 cyclooxygenase activity. As a comparison, the glycogen extract also demonstrated a similar though weaker effect on COX-1 and COX-2 enzymes. The active components of both extracts (Tween-20 and glycogen) were observed to possess molecular weights above 100 kDa. Although the anti-cytokine activity of the Tween-20 extract was destroyed by Proteinase-K treatment, the anti-COX-1 and anti-COX-2 activity of both the extracts were not sensitive to protease treatment. CONCLUSION: We have successfully demonstrated modulation in the levels of inflammatory cytokines, cyclooxygenase enzymes and immunoglobulins by our in-house laboratory preparations of Perna canaliculus, whereby suggesting an immunomodulatory role of Perna canaliculus in regulating inflammation

Lyprinol (stabilised lipid extract of New Zealand green-lipped mussel): a potential preventative treatment modality for inflammatory bowel disease

The original publication can be found at www.springerlink.comLyprinol (Pharmalink International), the stabilised lipid extract of the New Zealand green-lipped mussel, is currently used to relieve symptoms of arthritis. We investigated the effect of pretreatment with Lyprinol (LYP) on experimentally induced inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in mice. Methods. Male C57BL/6 mice (aged 6 weeks) were gavaged daily for 13 days with (150μl) olive oil (OO; n = 7), fish oil (FO; n = 8), or LYP (n = 8). Mice consumed 2% dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) for 6 days, starting on day 7. Body weight and disease activity index (DAI) scores were recorded daily. Colonic damage was determined by histopathology. Colonic inflammation was quantified by myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity. Results. LYP treatment significantly (P = 0.05) reduced body weight loss, DAI scores, crypt area losses, and cecum and colon weights, compared with FO treatment. MPO activity was not significantly affected by any treatment. Conclusions. These findings provide preliminary evidence that Lyprinol may be potentially useful in ameliorating symptoms of IBD. The benefit, however, is unlikely to be due to the omega-3 fatty acid content. Doseresponse evaluation of Lyprinol in experimental IBD is warranted.Danik Tenikoff, Karen J. Murphy, Maria Le, Peter R. Howe and Gordon S. Howart

Lyprinol(TM): a potential preventive treatment for experimental inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)

Incorporating the 7th International Symposium of Clinical Nutrition [and the] 4th International Conference of the Asia Pacific Clinical Nutrition SocietyBackground- Fish oil and the stabilised lipid extract of New Zealand Green Lipped Mussel (Lyprinol trade mark; LYP) are considered beneficial in treating arthritis and other inflammatory conditions. Unlike fish oil, it is uncertain whether any benefit seen with LYP is due to its omega-3 fatty acid content. We compared the effect of LYP and fish oil pre-treatments on experimental induction of IBD in mice. Methods- Male C57BL/6 mice aged 6 weeks were gavaged daily for 13 days with 150microl of olive oil (OO, n=7), LYP (5mg in OO; n=8) or fish oil (FO, 55mg EPA/DHA; n=8). Mice consumed 2% dextran sulphate sodium (DSS) for 6 days from day 7 to induce colitis. Body weight and disease activity index (DAI) scores were recorded daily; colonic inflammation was assessed by myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity and histopathologic damage to the ileum and colon. Results- FO treatment had no significant benefit compared with OO. By day 12 of the trial, OO treated mice had gained 15+/-2% body weight, FO treated mice had gained 6+/-5% and LYP treated mice had gained 21+/-3%: LYP treated mice had a lower DAI score (0 vs. 1 for OO, 4 for FO). Compared with FO, LYP treated mice had smaller crypt area losses (distal colon), lower caecum and colon weights and a trend for lower overall colitis severity in the distal colon. MPO activity was not significantly affected by either LYP or FO vs. OO (see table). Conclusions- These findings indicate that LYP may be potentially useful in ameliorating symptoms of IBD. The lack of effect of FO indicates that the benefit of LYP is attributable to components of the stabilised lipid extract other than its omega 3 content. A dose-response evaluation of LYP in experimental IBD is warranted