The effect of matured date palm tree (Phoenix dactylifera L.) fruit extract on mite- induced allergic symptoms in NC/Nga mice

The effect of a hot water extract of matured date palm tree fruit on allergic responses was investigated in NC/Nga mice. The allergic score was significantly reduced in the mice fed a date palm tree fruit extract-added diet than the fruit extract-free diet. The levels of serum antigen-specific immunoglobulin E and spleen interleukin (IL)-4+CD4+ cells were significantly lowered in the mice fed the fruit extract-added diet. Bruton's tyrosine kinase (Btk) and IL-2-inducible T cell kinase (Itk) mRNA expressions in spleen cells were significantly lowered in the mice fed the fruit extract-added diet. Moreover, chlorogenic acid and pelargonin decreased these mRNA expressions in C3H/HeN mouse spleen cell cultures. These results suggest that the date palm tree fruit extract may reduce allergic symptoms in mice via a decrease in the number of type 2 helper T (Th2) cells, and a suppression of the expression of kinases involved in mast cell degranulation and Th2 cell differentiation.ArticleFOOD AND AGRICULTURAL IMMUNOLOGY. 25(1):49-60 (2014)journal articl

Anti-Allergic Properties of a Matured Fruit Extract of the Date Palm Tree (Phoenix dactylifera L.) in Mite-Sensitized Mice

The effects of oral ingestion of a hot water extract of matured fruit of the date palm tree (Phoenix dactylifera L.) on allergic responses were investigated in mite-sensitized mice. Sneezing and nose rubbing events in mice given a date extract-added diet were significantly lower than in those given an extract-free (control) diet. The serum total and mite antigen-specific immunoglobulin (Ig) E levels, and the number of spleen interleukin-4(+)CD4(+), IgE(+)B220(+) and Fc epsilon RI alpha(+)CD117(+) cells was significantly lower in mice given the date extract- added diet than in those given the control diet. Chlorogenic acid, pelargonin and ferulic acid significantly reduced the number of IgE(+)B220(+) cells, while chlorogenic acid and pelargonin significantly decreased the number of Fc epsilon RI alpha(+)CD117(+) cells in mouse spleen cell cultures. These results suggest that some polyphenols in the date may reduce mite-induced allergic symptoms in mice via a decrease in the number of IgE-producing plasma cells and high-affinity IgE receptor-expressing mast cells.ArticleJOURNAL OF NUTRITIONAL SCIENCE AND VITAMINOLOGY. 58(4):272-277 (2012)journal articl

Microarray analysis of mRNAs extracted from the Peyer's patch cells of mice given a diet including Escherichia coli and its specific bovine milk IgG

Five-week-old mice were given a diet consisting of ovalbumin alone (OVA, control diet) or a mixture of OVA, Escherichia coli, and its specific bovine milk IgG (IgG/E.coli added diet) as a protein source for 5 weeks, and mRNAs extracted from Peyer's patch cells of the mice were analyzed by means of DNA microarray. The gene expression of proteins relating to immunoglobulin production and development of immune diseases was reduced in mice given the IgG/E.coli-added diet compared with those given the control diet. In contrast, the gene expression of marker proteins on Th1, Th3, and negatively regulatory T cells was noticeably increased. On the other hand, Peyer's patch cells from mice that had not been given any E. coli or milk IgG were cultured with milk IgG, E. coli, or a mixture of E. coli and its specific milk IgG, and were subjected to a cell function analyzer. The numbers of CD19(+) cells and interleukin-4(+)CD4(+) cells increased significantly when the cells were cultured with either milk IgG or E. coli, while the mixture of E coli and its specific milk IgG hardly influenced the numbers of these cells. These results indicate that the result obtained by DNA microarray analysis is not due to free milk IgG or E. coli alone, but is attributable to a mixture of E. coli and its specific IgG, suggesting that a mixture of E. coli and its specific IgG in intestinal tracts would reduce the development of allergic symptoms and autoimmune diseases.ArticleMILCHWISSENSCHAFT-MILK SCIENCE INTERNATIONAL. 64(4):354-357 (2009)journal articl

Anti-allergic effects of Lactobacillus crispatus KT-11 strain on ovalbumin-sensitized BALB/c mice

The definitive version is available at www.blackwell-synergy.comIn this study, we investigated the effects of oral ingestion of Lactobacillus crispatus KT-11 strain (KT-11) on the immune response in an allergic rhinitis mouse model, ovalbumin (OVA)-sensitized BALB/c mice. Sneezing activity in mice that were administered a KT-11-supplemented diet was significantly lower than that in mice administered a KT-11-free diet (control diet) at age 11 weeks. We found that serum OVA-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels and total number of interleukin (IL)-4+CD4+ spleen cells in mice that were administered a KT-11-supplemented diet were significantly lower than in mice administered a control diet. The ratio of spleen interferon-gamma+CD4+/IL-4+CD4+ cells was higher in the mice administered the KT-11-supplemented diet compared to that in mice administered the control or L. rhamnosus GG-supplemented diet. In contrast, the number of CD11b+CD80+ and Fc epsilon RI alpha+CD117+ cells was significantly lower in mice administered the KT-11-supplemented diet. These results suggested that KT-11 reduced OVA-induced allergic symptoms in BALB/c mice via the adjustment of the T helper type 1/T helper type 2 balance, and a decrease in the number of antigen-presenting cells and high affinity IgE receptor-positive mast cells.ArticleANIMAL SCIENCE JOURNAL. 81(6):699-705 (2010)journal articl

Oral administration of a fruiting body extract of Boletopsis leucomelas enhances intestinal IgA production in LPS-challenged mice

The present study showed that a hot water extract of the fruiting body of the edible mushroom Boletopsis leucomelas, known as 'Kurokawa' Japanese, strongly stimulated IgA-production in mouse spleen cells in our screening experiment. The in vivo study was also conducted with the objective of enhancing adaptive immune response by oral administration of the hot water extract of B. leucomelas (BLE) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-challenged mice. The mice were fed a standard diet with or without 0.16% BLE. The mice were also orally administered sodium phosphate buffer or LPS weekly at days 7, 14 and 21. Results indicated that LPS-specific serum IgG, IgM and IgA were increased in the BLE diet group compared to the standard diet group. Interestingly, intestinal total IgA and LPS-specific IgA were significantly increased in the BLE diet group. Moreover, the <1000 Da, 5000-10,000 Da phenol sulphate-positive molecules from BLE showed significant IgA-producing activity.ArticleFOOD AND AGRICULTURAL IMMUNOLOGY. 25(4):510-522 (2014)journal articl

Anti-allergic Properties of a Fruit Extract of Prune (Prunus domestica L.), in Mite-sensitized BALB/c Mice

The effects of oral ingestion of a hot water extract of prune (Prunus domestica L.) fruit on allergic responses were investigated in mite-sensitized BALB/c mice. The number of sneezing events in mice given the extract-added diet was significantly lower than in mice given the extract-free diet. Serum mite allergen-specific immunoglobulin E levels were significantly lower in mice given the extract-added diet than in mice given the extract-free diet. In contrast, the ratio of splenic IFN-gamma(+)CD4(+) cells/IL-4(+)CD4(+) cells was higher in mice given the extract-added diet. Expression levels of Stat6, Btk and Stim1 mRNAs in spleen cells of mice given the extract-added diet were significantly lower than in mice given the extract-free diet. These results suggest that the prune extract may reduce type I allergic symptoms in mice via the adjustment of type 1 helper T cell/type 2 helper T cell balance and the suppression of mast cell degranulation.ArticleFOOD SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH. 18(5):755-760 (2012)journal articl

Anti-allergic effects of a mixture of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and its specific goat's milk immunoglobulin G rich fraction on ovalbumin sensitized BALB/c mice

In this study, we investigated the effects of oral ingestion of Saccharomyces (S.) cerevisiae and its specific immunoglobulin (Ig) G-rich fraction, prepared from goat's milk, on immune function in an allergic rhinitis mouse model, ovalbumin (OVA)-sensitized BALB/c mice. Sneezing activity in mice that were administered a feed containing a mixture of S. cerevisiae and its specific goat's milk IgG-rich fraction (mixture group) was significantly lower than that in mice administered the mixture-free feed (control group) at age 11 and 12 weeks, although the activity in mice that were given a feed containing S. cerevisiae (yeast group) was similar to that of the control group. We found that the ratio of spleen interferon-gamma(+)CD4(+) cell/interleukin (IL)-4(+)CD4(+) cell was higher in the mixture and yeast groups than the control group. The number of spleen CD80(+)CD11b(+) cells was significantly lower in the mixture and yeast groups than the control group. In contrast, the numbers of spleen CD122(+)CD8 alpha(+) and IL-10(+)CD4(+) cells were significantly higher in the mixture group than the control and yeast groups while the numbers of IgE(+)B220(+) and Fc epsilon RI alpha(+)CD117(+) cells were significantly lower in the mixture group. These results suggested that the mixture of S. cerevisiae and its specific goat's milk IgG-rich fraction reduced OVA-induced allergic symptoms in BALB/c mice via the induction of suppressor T cells and the reduction of Ig E-producing cells and high affinity IgE receptor-positive mast cells rather than the adjustment of the Th1/Th2 balance.ArticleMILCHWISSENSCHAFT-MILK SCIENCE INTERNATIONAL. 66(1): 7-10(2011)journal articl

The effect on mouse immune systems of cow's colostrum produced 6 to 7 days after parturition

Five-week-old male mice were divided into 2 groups in which they were orally given sterile saline solution (control solution) or cow's colostrum powder prepared from milk produced 6 to 7 days after parturition in sterile saline solution (colostrum solution). The mice were given the solution once a day for 5 weeks. The level of intestinal total IgG was significantly lower in the mice given the colostrum solution than in the mice given the control solution, and the intestinal IgA and serum IgG levels tended to be lower in the mice given the colostrum solution. The numbers of spleen CD11b(+), CD19(+), and IFN-gamma(+)CD4(+) cells were also significantly lower in mice given the colostrum solution. DNA microarray analysis of mRNAs extracted from Peyer's patch cells showed that the gene expression of proteins relating to T cell activation of acquired immune responses or Fc epsilon-mediated mast cell activation was obviously lower in the mice given the colostrum solution than in the mice given the control solution, whereas that of proteins relating to T regulatory cells or intestinal innate immune system was noticeably higher in mice given the colostrum solution. These results suggest that the oral ingestion of cow's colostrum suppresses the acquired immune system and type I allergic reactions, and enhances the innate immune system.ArticleMILCHWISSENSCHAFT-MILK SCIENCE INTERNATIONAL. 65(1):11-15 (2010)journal articl

Reforestation following harvesting of conifer plantations in Japan: Current issues from silvicultural and ecological perspectives

Following the Second World War, the number of Cupressaceae plantations in Japan increased, in accordance with government policy for the restoration of timber resources and conservation of soil and water. Currently, these even-aged plantations occupy approximately 44% of the forested area and 24% of the national land area of Japan. Although many of these plantations have become available as timber resources, there are several silviculture-related problems associated with reforestation following clear-cutting of these plantations. The abundant annual precipitation in Japan allows for dominance by competitive vegetation, which makes natural regeneration difficult and increases the cost of silvicultural operations during and after the planting of seedlings. Because the number of seedling producers has decreased, there has been little incentive to keep seedling production techniques up to date. Additionally, damage to planted seedlings by the overabundant sika deer (Cervus nippon) population has increased dramatically in the last dozen years or so. To determine how to overcome these difficulties, various studies are underway in Japan. For example, seedling studies have examined the relationship between seedling size and competitive ability with other species in reforested areas, and have led to the development of lower-cost systems to produce customized Cupressaceae seedlings, as well as measures to minimize transplanting damage to seedlings. Previous studies have shown that no-weeding operations might lower the risk of sika deer browsing seedlings, although this silvicultural countermeasure may potentially reduce seedling growth. Studies have also examined the types of physical protection against sika deer browsing that are most efficient. We must combine these findings into a unified silvicultural system for successful restoration via lower-cost plantations

Fermented Soybean Powder with Rice Mold in the Absence of Salt Stimulates the Cellular Immune System and Suppresses the Humoral Immune Response in Mice

The immunomodulatory effect of fermented non-salty soybean powder (NSBP) was investigated in C3H/HeN mice. The number of splenic CD11b(+), CD49b(+), and interferon (IFN)-gamma(+)CD4(+) cells increased significantly, while that of interleukin (IL)-4(+)CD4(+) and CD19(+) cells decreased significantly in cultures containing NSBP. Similarly, in the spleen and Peyer's patches of mice fed a diet containing NSBP, the number of IL-12(+)CD11b(+), CD49b(+), and IFN-gamma(+)CD4(+) cells increased noticeably, whereas the number of splenic IL-4(+)CD4(+) and CD19b(+) cells was lower compared to mice fed an NSBP-free diet. Superoxide production by peritoneal macrophages was significantly higher in mice fed an NSBP-containing diet. Both intestinal total IgA and serum total IgG levels declined in mice fed the NSBP-containing diet. Microarray analysis of mRNAs extracted from Peyer's patch cells of mice fed the NSBP-containing diet indicated an increase in the expression of several genes related to cellular immune responses, while the expression of genes related to immunoglobulin production decreased. These results indicate that NSBP stimulates the cellular immune response, but suppresses the acquired humoral immune response in C3H/HeN mice.ArticleJOURNAL OF NUTRITIONAL SCIENCE AND VITAMINOLOGY. 59(6):564-569 (2013)journal articl