Aqueous extracts from dietary supplements influence the production of inflammatory cytokines in immortalized and primary T lymphocytes

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Congaplex^®and Immuplex^®are dietary supplements that have been traditionally used to support immune system function. The purpose of these experiments was to determine whether Congaplex^®and Immuplex^®affect immune function using primary and immortalized T lymphocytes.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Immortalized CEM and Jurkat T lymphocytes and primary peripheral mononuclear blood cells (PBMCs) were treated with the aqueous extracts from Congaplex^®and Immuplex^®to determine the effects of these products on cytokine production in activated T lymphocytes.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Congaplex^®enhanced phytohemagglutinin/phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PHA/PMA) stimulation of both CEM and Jurkat cells as measured by the production of cytokines, while Immuplex^®suppressed PHA/PMA-induced production of cytokines, with the exception of interleukin (IL)-8 which was enhanced by Immuplex^®. <it>In vitro </it>treatment of PBMCs from 10 healthy donors with Congaplex^®or Immuplex^®decreased PHA-stimulated production of interferon (IFN)-γ but increased the production of IL-13.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>While the effects of Congaplex^®and Immuplex^®differed in these two models, these data demonstrate that the aqueous extracts from these two dietary supplements can affect the inflammatory response of T lymphocytes.</p

Prothymosin alpha: a ubiquitous polypeptide with potential use in cancer diagnosis and therapy

The thymus is a central lymphoid organ with crucial role in generating T cells and maintaining homeostasis of the immune system. More than 30 peptides, initially referred to as “thymic hormones,” are produced by this gland. Although the majority of them have not been proven to be thymus-speciWc, thymic peptides comprise an eVective group of regulators, mediating important immune functions. Thymosin fraction Wve (TFV) was the Wrst thymic extract shown to stimulate lymphocyte proliferation and diVerentiation. Subsequent fractionation of TFV led to the isolation and characterization of a series of immunoactive peptides/polypeptides, members of the thymosin family. Extensive research on prothymosin (proT) and thymosin 1 (T1) showed that they are of clinical signiWcance and potential medical use. They may serve as molecular markers for cancer prognosis and/or as therapeutic agents for treating immunodeWciencies, autoimmune diseases and malignancies. Although the molecular mechanisms underlying their eVect are yet not fully elucidated proT and T1 could be considered as candidates for cancer immunotherapy. In this review, we will focus in principle on the eventual clinical utility of proT, both as a tumor biomarker and in triggering anticancer immune responses. Considering the experience acquired via the use of T1 to treat cancer patients, we will also discuss potential approaches for the future introduction of proT into the clinical setting

Thymosin α 1 potentiates the release by CD8(+) cells of soluble factors able to inhibit HIV-1 and human T lymphotropic virus 1 infection in vitro

BACKGROUND: Thymosin α-1 (Tα1) exploits a specific action on lymphoid cells and is able to induce in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) a strong transcriptional response. CD8 antiviral factor activity plays a role in the control or prevention of HIV-1 infection by a non-cytolytic mechanism. The ability of Tα1 to modulate the release of antiretroviral soluble factors by CD8(+) cells was investigated. METHODS: Supernatants from lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulated CD8(+)-isolated cells treated with Tα1 were screened on in vitro infection of human monocyte-derived macrophages (MDMs) and PBMCs with HIV-1, and of PBMCs with human T lymphotropic virus 1 (HTLV-1). In CD8(+) cells, as well as in PBMCs of healthy donors as from HIV(+) individuals, a microarray analysis to assess the transcriptional response after treatment was performed. RESULTS: Tα1 potentiates the release, in LPS-stimulated CD8(+) cells, of soluble factors able to inhibit both in vitro HIV-1 infection of MDMs and PBMCs and in vitro HTLV-1 infection of PBMCs. A distinctive transcriptional profile was induced by Tα1 in PBMCs from HIV(+) donors. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that Tα1 would represent a re-evaluated approach to antiretroviral therapy in combination with innovative treatments and with vaccine administration