Effect of yak milk casein hydrolysate on TH1/TH2 cytokines production by murine spleen lymphocytes in vitro.

Abstract

Yak casein hydrolysate was derived from the enzymatic alcalase-hydrolysate of a typical northwestern China milk product called Qula. An in vitro study was conducted to examine their immunoregulatory effects on murine T cells, including Con-A-induced lymphoproliferation and splenocyte cell cycle, production, and messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of interleukin-2 (IL-2), interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), and interleukin-4 (IL-4). The results showed that yak casein hydrolysate had lymphoproliferation activity on murine splenocytes and induced their cell cycle from the G1 to the S phase. It could increase Con-A-induced IL-2 and IFN-gamma production in spleen cells, but a very weak or no effect was observed in the absence of Con-A. The present study also showed that it could markedly increase the production and mRNA expression of IFN-gamma and IL-2, which are key cytokines for T helper 1 cell (Th1) cell development, in a dose-dependent manner. However, their effects on IL-4 secretion were not obvious, and the enhancement was much lower than that of IFN-gamma and IL-2. All of these demonstrated that yak casein hydrolysate could increase type 1 cytokine production, thereby shifting the Th1/T helper 2 cell (Th2) balance toward a Th1-dominant phenotype, which meant that yak casein hydrolysate could indeed not only modulate the differentiation of helper T cell but also has the capacity to modulate the Th1/Th2 balance. Therefore, yak casein hydrolysate may be useful for the treatment of cell-mediated immune diseases.

• Authors: X Y Mao, H Y Yang, J P Song, Y H Li, F Z Ren
• Journal: Journal of agricultural and food chemistry (J Agric Food Chem) Vol. 55 Issue 3 Pg. 638-42 (Feb 07 2007) ISSN: 0021-8561 [Print] United States
• PMID: 17263454 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Caseins
• Cytokines
• Interleukin-2
• RNA, Messenger
• Interleukin-4
• casein hydrolysate
• Interferon-gamma

Topics

• Animals
• Caseins (pharmacology)
• Cattle
• Cell Cycle (drug effects)
• Cells, Cultured
• Cytokines (biosynthesis, genetics)
• Interferon-gamma (biosynthesis, genetics)
• Interleukin-2 (biosynthesis, genetics)
• Interleukin-4 (biosynthesis, genetics)
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred BALB C
• Milk (chemistry)
• RNA, Messenger (analysis)
• Spleen (cytology)
• Th1 Cells (drug effects, metabolism)
• Th2 Cells (drug effects, metabolism)