Eucheuma cottonii Sulfated Oligosaccharides Decrease Food Allergic Responses in Animal Models by Up-regulating Regulatory T (Treg) Cells

Structural Characterization and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Oligosaccharides in Psidium guajava Linn

Guava (Psidium guajava Linn.) is a tropical fruit rich in carbohydrates, and its polysaccharides have been deeply studied. However, the extraction of guava oligosaccharides and the molecular mechanisms of anti-inflammatory activity are still inadequately explored. Herein, a water-soluble oligosaccharide (GPO) separated from guava was purified and obtained by ultrafiltration and DEAE-52 cellulose column chromatography, with a molecular weight of 1054 Da. Ion chromatography analysis of GPO indicated the presence of glucose and xylose in a ratio of 5:1, respectively. The structure of GPO was characterized by GC-MS, NMR, and MS, deduced as α-d-Glcp-(1,4)-α-d-Glcp-(1,6)-α-d-Glcp-(1,3)-β-d-Glcp-(1,4)-β-d-Xylp-(1,3,6)-α-d-Glcp, with a sulfate ester group bound to carbon 3 of →3,6)-α-d-Glcp-(1→. Bioactivity tests in vitro indicated that GPO (25 μg/mL) could significantly inhibit the release of nitric oxide (NO), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), exhibiting anti-inflammatory activity. Subsequent metabolomics and ferroptosis-verification experiments further revealed that GPO mediated ferroptosis to exert anti-inflammatory activity on macrophage RAW264.7 cells. Our research introduced an innovative approach for isolating oligosaccharides and provided a detailed elucidation of the structure of GPO, indicating its potential as a natural anti-inflammatory agent.

Interleukin 10 and hydrogen peroxide mediate anti-allergic activity of polysaccharide from Pyropia yezoensis f. narawaensis

In recent years, anti-allergic effects of food factors have been attracting attention as a treatment for allergic diseases with fewer side effects. Previous study demonstrated that oral administration of the polysaccharide from Pyropia yezoensis f. narawaensis (PPY) to mice improved allergic responses, and that the suppressive effect involved an increase in IL-10 secretion into the blood. However, it was not clear how IL-10 secretion was related to the anti-allergic activity of oral administration of PPY. The aim of the present study was to investigate the mechanism of anti-allergic effect of PPY. PPY inhibited allergic responses without suppressing the increase in serum IgE levels in mice model of active cutaneous anaphylaxis, suggesting that PPY suppressed allergy by affecting post-sensitization phase. PPY did not inhibit cell degranulation when RBL-2H3 cells were treated directly with IL-10 alone, but coexistence of IL-10 and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) inhibited its degranulation. Furthermore, PPY increased H2O2 release from HT-29 cells, but pretreatment with DPI, an NADPH oxidase inhibitor, suppressed H2O2 production. Therefore, when N-acetylcysteine, a reactive oxygen species scavenger, was administered orally at the simultaneous time with PPY, the PPY-induced suppression of ear edema was eliminated. In conclusion, the results of the present study indicate that PPY exerts its anti-allergic effects through IL-10 production from intestinal epithelial cells with NADPH oxidase-mediated H2O2 production.

Mechanisms of reduced sensitization by extensive hydrolysis of milk protein concentrate: Impact on the immune response of Th1/Th2 and Treg/Th17 cells in mice

Extensively hydrolyzed protein products not only provide sufficient nutrition but also effectively reduce the allergenicity of milk proteins. However, there was limited information about the sensitization of extensive hydrolysate of milk protein concentrate (EMPH). In this study, the mechanism by which EMPH reduce sensitization was studied by constructing a milk protein concentrate (MPC) sensitization evaluation animal model. The results demonstrated that the serum levels of the specific IgE, IgG, and IgG1 antibodies in the EMPH group (one-step alcalase-protamex [O-AX] and two-step alcalase-protamex [T-AX]) were significantly decreased (P < 0.01). In addition, compared with the MPC group (19.29%), the expression of CD3+CD4+ T cells in the O-AX (16.61%) and T-AX groups (15.94%) was significantly reduced (P < 0.05). This indicated an imbalance of Th1/Th2 in the MPC group, which was confirmed by the results of cytokines and transcription factors in the spleen. The mice in the control MPC group highly expressed FcεRI+CD117+ mast cells (22.25%), peripheral blood B cells (2.91%), and CD3+CD8+ T cells (8.65%). The results indicated that EMPH did not cause an imbalance of Th1/Th2 cells and Treg/Th17 cells in mice and had lower sensitization.

A comprehensive review on anti-allergic natural bioactive compounds for combating food allergy

Food allergy poses a great challenge to food safety and public health worldwide. Currently, clinical symptoms are primarily managed with medications, which can lead to drug resistance, adverse effects, and disruptions in gut flora balance. As a result, there has been a focus on researching safe and effective anti-allergic natural ingredients. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of food allergy mechanisms, methods of assessment of anti-food allergy studies, and a classification of natural substances with anti-allergic properties. It also examines the anti-allergic effects of these substances on food allergies and investigates gut microbiota changes induced by these natural bioactives, highlighting their significance to food allergies.Natural actives with anti-food allergic properties may alleviate allergic reactions through multiple targets and pathways. These mechanisms include promoting a shift in the Th1/Th2 balance, reducting IgE synthesis, preventing cellular degranulation and reducing the release of allergic mediator. The gut environment is closely related to food allergy and there is a significant interaction between the two. By targeting the intestinal flora, we can adopt dietary interventions to effectively address and control food allergies. This provides valuable insights for the future development of functional foods targeting the alleviation of food allergies.

Differences in proteomic profiles and immunomodulatory activity of goat and cow milk fat globule membrane

This study aimed to clarify the composition and bioactivity differences between goat and cow milk fat globule membrane (MFGM) protein by proteomic, and the immunomodulatory activity of MFGM proteins was further evaluated by using mouse splenic lymphocytes in vitro. A total of 257 MFGM proteins showed significant differences between goat and cow milk. The upregulated and unique MFGM proteins in goat milk were significantly enriched in the positive regulation of immune response, negative regulation of Interleukin-5 (IL-5) secretion, and involved in nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain (NOD)-like receptor signaling. The contents of IL-2 and Interferon-γ in the supernatant of spleen lymphocytes treated with goat MFGM proteins were much higher than those of IL-4 and IL-5, suggesting a Th1-skewed immune response. These results revealed that goat MFGM proteins could possess better immunomodulatory effects as compared to cow milk. Our findings may provide new insights to elucidate the physiological functions and nutritional of goat milk.

In vivo evaluations of Lactobacillus-fermented Eucheuma spinosum polysaccharides on alleviating food allergy activity

In order to explore the in vivo anti-food allergy activity of Lactobacillus sakei subsp. sakei-fermented Eucheuma spinosum polysaccharides F1-ESP-3, an ovalbumin (OVA)-induced food allergy mouse model was established by ascites immunization and gavage. The weight, temperature, incidence of diarrhea, levels of allergic mediators and inflammatory factors in the serum of mice were analyzed. We analyzed the differentiation of mouse spleen lymphocytes and the proportion of sensitized mast cells by flow cytometry. The intestinal barrier status of mice was analyzed by intestinal pathological tissue sections and microbiota sequencing. The results showed that F1-ESP-3 could alleviate the food allergy symptoms of mice, such as hypothermia and loose stool; levels of OVA-specific immunoglobulin E, mast cell protease and histamine in the serum of sensitized mice and the proportion of dendritic cells and mast cells in mouse spleen were significantly reduced; in addition, F1-ESP-3 may protect the intestinal barrier and further improve the intestinal microenvironment of food-allergic mice by regulating the abundance of Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes. F1-ESP-3 can further improve the intestinal microenvironment of food-allergic mice by upregulating the levels of Lachnospiraceae, and may affect the signal pathways such as NOD-like receptor, MAPK, I kappa B and antigen processing and presentation.

Fiber rich food suppressed airway inflammation, GATA3 + Th2 cells, and FcεRIα+ eosinophils in asthma

Background

Allergic Asthma is a disease presenting various endotypes and no current therapies act curative but alleviate disease symptoms. Dietary interventions are gaining increasing importance in regulating immune responses. Furthermore, short chain fatty acids (SFCA), as the main products of dietary fiber's fermentation by the gut bacteria, ameliorate the pathogenesis and disease burden of different illnesses including asthma. Nevertheless, the connection and crosstalk between the gut and lung is poorly understood.

Objective

In this work, the role of high fiber diet on the development of allergic asthma at baseline and after exacerbation of disease induced by respiratory viruses was investigated.

Methods

Hereby, SCFA in serum of asthmatic and non-asthmatic pre-school children before and after airway disease symptoms were analyzed. Moreover, the effect of high fiber diet in vivo in a murine model of house dust mite extract (HDM) induced allergic asthma and in the end in isolated lung and spleen cells infected ex vivo with Rhinovirus was analyzed.

Results

In this study, a decrease of the SCFA 3-Hydroxybutyric acid in serum of asthmatic children after symptomatic episodes at convalescent visit as compared to asthmatic and control children at baseline visit was observed. In experimental asthma, in mice fed with high fiber diet, a reduced lung GATA3 + Th2 type mediated inflammation, mucus production and collagen deposition and expression of Fc epsilon receptor Ia (FcεRIa) in eosinophils was observed. By contrast, the CD8+ memory effector T cells were induced in the lungs of asthmatic mice fed with high fiber diet. Then, total lung cells from these asthmatic mice fed with either standard food or with fiber rich food were infected with RV ex vivo. Here, RV1b mRNA was found significantly reduced in the lung cells derived from fiber rich food fed mice as compared to those derived from standard food fed asthmatic mice. Looking for the mechanism, an increase in CD8+ T cells in RV infected spleen cells derived from fiber rich fed asthmatic mice, was observed.

Conclusion

Convalescent preschool asthmatic children after a symptomatic episode have less serum ß-Hydroxybutyric acid as compared to control and asthmatic children at baseline visit. Fiber rich diet associated with anti-inflammatory effects as well as anti-allergic effects by decreasing Type 2 and IgE mediated immune responses and inducing CD8+ memory effector T cells in a murine model of allergic asthma. Finally, ex vivo infection with Rhinovirus (RV) of total lung cells from asthmatic mice fed with fiber rich food led to a decreased RV load as compared to mice fed with standard food. Moreover, spleen cells derived from asthmatic mice fed with fiber rich food induced CD8+ T cells after ex vivo infection with RV.

Clinical implications

Dietary interventions with increased content in natural fibers like pectins would ameliorate asthma exacerbations. Moreover, respiratory infection in asthma downregulated SCFA in the gut contributing to asthma exacerbations.

Targeting different signaling pathways for food allergy regulation and potential therapy: a review

The rising incidence rate of food allergy is attracting more intention. The pathogenesis of food allergy is complex and its definite regulatory mechanism is not utterly understood. Exploring the molecular mechanism of food allergy to help find effective methods that can prevent or treat food allergy is widely necessary. Recently, targeting cellular signaling pathways have been employed as novel approaches to discover food allergy therapy. Supplementing probiotics and bioactive compounds with anti-allergic property are believed feasible approaches for food allergy therapy. These probiotics or bioactive compounds affect food allergy by regulating cellular signaling pathways, and ultimately alleviate food allergy. This review aims to report systematic information about the knowledge of signaling pathways participated in food allergy, the alterations of these signaling pathways during food allergy that treated with probiotics and bioactive compounds are discussed as well. Further studies on the mechanism of signaling pathway network regulating food allergy and the precise action mechanism of probiotics and bioactive compounds are in the urgent need to help develop efficient treatment or complete prevention. We hope to help scientists understand food allergy systematically.

Effects of Lactobacillus fermentation on Eucheuma spinosum polysaccharides: Characterization and mast cell membrane stabilizing activity

Eucheuma polysaccharides have varieties of biological activities. However, it is accompanied by problems like large molecular weight, high viscosity, and low utilization. Here, we first prepared fermented Eucheuma spinosum polysaccharides (F-ESP) by Lactobacillus fermentation, compared with low-temperature freeze-thaw ESP (L-ESP) prepared by the freeze-thaw method, explored the composition and structural characteristics of F-ESP and L-ESP, and evaluation of the ability of different samples to inhibit mast cell degranulation using classical mast cell model. Then, the activity of L-ESP and F-ESP in vivo was preliminarily evaluated using a passive cutaneous anaphylaxis model. Two kinds of F-ESP named F1-ESP-3 and F2-ESP-3 were obtained by fermentation of Eucheuma spinosum with the selected strains of Lactobacillus.sakei subsp.sakei and Lactobacillus.rhamnosus. Compared with the purified component L-ESP-3, the monosaccharide composition of F1-ESP-3 contains more glucuronic acid, the molecular weight reduced from >600 kDa (L-ESP-3) to 28.30 kDa (F1-ESP-3) and 33.58 kDa (F2-ESP-3), F1-ESP-3 has higher solubility and lower apparent viscosity. Fermentation did not destroy the functional groups and structure of ESP. Moreover, F1-ESP-3 significantly inhibited RBL-2H3 cell degranulation by reducing depolymerization of F-actin and Ca²⁺ influx. F1-ESP-3 reduced the symptoms of mast cell-mediated passive cutaneous anaphylaxis, indicating that F1-ESP-3 may have better anti-allergic activity in vivo.

Oleuropein Prevents OVA-Induced Food Allergy in Mice by Enhancing the Intestinal Epithelial Barrier and Remodeling the Intestinal Flora

SCOPE

This study assesses whether oleuropein prevents ovalbumin (OVA)-induced food allergy (FA) and investigates the underlying mechanisms.

METHODS AND RESULTS

A Balb/c FA mouse model is established and maintained for 7 weeks. The subjects are administered OVA by oral gavage to induce FA and supplemented with different oleuropein doses (1.00-20.00 mg kg^-1 per day) to evaluate its preventative efficacy. The results indicate that oleuropein effectively alleviates OVA-induced allergy symptoms and promotes temperature elevation in sensitized mice. The secretion of serology-specific OVA-immunoglobulin (Ig)E, OVA-IgG, and histamine is inhibited in the sensitized mice. Oleuropein dramatically upregulates the expression of intestinal tight junction (TJ) proteins, regenerating gene (Reg) IIIγ, and interleukin (IL)-22, enhancing the physical and biochemical barrier function of the intestinal epithelium. Additionally, oleuropein improves the immune homeostasis of the intestinal epithelium by affecting the function of mucosal mast cells and regulatory T (Treg) cells. The disordered intestinal flora of the sensitized mice also improves after oleuropein administration.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that oleuropein prevents FA by enhancing intestinal epithelial barrier function and improving immune homeostasis and intestinal flora in sensitized mice. Therefore, diets rich in oleuropein should be recommended for people with FA.

Natural immunomodulating substances used for alleviating food allergy

Food allergy is a serious health problem affecting more than 10% of the human population worldwide. Medical treatments for food allergy remain limited because immune therapy is risky and costly, and anti-allergic drugs have many harmful side effects and can cause drug dependence. In this paper, we review natural bioactive substances capable of alleviating food allergy. The sources of the anti-allergic substances reviewed include plants, animals, and microbes, and the types of substances include polysaccharides, oligosaccharides, polyphenols, phycocyanin, polyunsaturated fatty acids, flavonoids, terpenoids, quinones, alkaloids, phenylpropanoids, and probiotics. We describe five mechanisms involved in anti-allergic activities, including binding with epitopes located in allergens, affecting the gut microbiota, influencing intestinal epithelial cells, altering antigen presentation and T cell differentiation, and inhibiting the degranulation of effector cells. In the discussion, we present the limitations of existing researches as well as promising advances in the development of anti-allergic foods and/or immunomodulating food ingredients that can effectively prevent or alleviate food allergy. This review provides a reference for further research on anti-allergic materials and their hyposensitizing mechanisms.

Metabolite release and rheological properties of sponge cake after in vitro digestion and the influence of a flour replacer rich in dietary fibre

The present study aimed to better understand the metabolite release and rheological characteristics of sponge cake after in vitro digestion and the effect of Eucheuma as a fibre-rich flour replacer. Overall, 22 compounds including amino acids, saccharides, fatty acids, and other metabolites were identified based on nuclear magnetic resonance spectra. Principal component analysis and orthogonal projection to latent structures-discriminant analysis showed that Eucheuma reduced the release of amino acids and fatty acids. The released glucose from the EP20 sample (20% replacement of flour with Eucheuma) decreased by 35.4% in intestinal phases compared with the control cake. Eucheuma's in vitro effects on sponge cake digestion mainly reflected altered flow behaviour index. All samples showed solid-like behaviour and a decrease in viscoelastic moduli after digestion. This study forms the basis for future optimisation of food properties to control their digestive characteristics.

Changes in structure and allergenicity of shrimp tropomyosin by dietary polyphenols treatment

Here, the potential allergenicity of shrimp tropomyosin (TM) after conjugation with chlorogenic acid (CA) and (-)-epigallo-catechin 3-gallate (EGCG) was assessed. Conformational structures of TM-polyphenol complexes were detected using SDS-PAGE, circular dichroism (CD), and fluorescence. Potential allergenicity was assessed by immunological methods, a rat basophil leukemia cell model (RBL-2H3), and in vivo assays. Indirect ELISA showed that TM-polyphenol complexes caused a conformational change to TM structure, with decreased IgG/IgE binding capacity significantly fewer inflammatory mediators were released with EGCG-TM and CA-TM in a mediator-releasing RBL-2H3 cell line. Mice model showed low allergenicity to serum levels of TM-specific antibody and T-cell cytokine production. EGCG-TM and CA-TM might reduce the potential allergenicity of shrimp TM, which could be used to produce hypoallergenic food in the food industry.

Depolymerized sulfated galactans from Eucheuma serra ameliorate allergic response and intestinal flora in food allergic mouse model

The ameliorative effect of depolymerized sulfated polysaccharides from Eucheuma serra (DESP) on ovalbumin (OVA)-caused induced food allergy was investigated in this work. Results showed that OVA stimulated the secretion of allergy-related cytokines (OVA-specific IgE, mMCP-1, IgA, TNF-α) and led to diarrhea, intestinal epithelial damage, and intestinal microflora dysbiosis in sensitized mice. After the administration of DESP, however, the anaphylactic symptoms (shortness of breath, hypothermia, diarrhea), along with the allergy-related cytokines, were effectively suppressed. Moreover, the reduced intestinal inflammation was discovered in the DESP-treated group. Additionally, 16S rRNA sequencing of fecal samples was performed, and gene count and α-diversity analysis revealed that DESP improved microbial community richness. Taxonomic composition analysis showed that DESP modulated the proportion of Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes/Proteobacteria. Particularly, DESP increased probiotics (Lactobacillaceae, Bifidobacteriaceae and Prevotellaceae) and decreased pathogenic bacteria (Helicobacteraceae and Desulfovibrionaceae). These findings, therefore, suggest that DESP may ameliorate food allergy through the regulation of intestinal microbiota.

Tyrosinase/caffeic acid cross-linking alleviated shrimp (Metapenaeus ensis) tropomyosin-induced allergic responses by modulating the Th1/Th2 immunobalance

In this study, the effect of enzymatic cross-linking of shrimp tropomyosin (TM) with tyrosinase and caffeic acid (TM-Tyr/CA) on the allergic response were assessed using in vitro and in vivo models. The RBL-2H3 and KU812 cell lines were employed to evaluate the changes in the stimulation abilities of TM-Tyr/CA that showed significant inhibition of mediators and cytokines. The digestibility of cross-linked TM was improved and the recognitions of IgG/IgE were markedly reduced, as revealed by western blotting. TM-Tyr/CA decreased anaphylactic symptoms, and hindered the levels of IgG1, IgE, histamine, tryptase and mouse mast-cell protease-1 (mMCP-1) in mice sera. Cross-linked TM downregulated the production of interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5, and IL-13 by 51.36, 12.24 and 20.55%, respectively, whereas, IL-10 and IFN-γ were upregulated by 20.71 and 19.0%. TM-Tyr/CA showed reduced allergenicity and may have preventive effect in relieving TM induced allergic response via immunosuppression and positive modulation of T-helper (Th)1/Th2 immunobalance.

Immunomodulatory Effect of Laccase/Caffeic Acid and Transglutaminase in Alleviating Shrimp Tropomyosin (Met e 1) Allergenicity

This work aimed to investigate the effect of enzymatic cross-linking on the allergenic potential of shrimp tropomyosin (TM), Met e 1. The cross-linked TM with laccase (CL), laccase/caffeic acid (CLC and CLC⁺), and transglutaminase (CTG and CTG⁺) formed macromolecules and altered the allergen conformation. The IgG/IgE-binding potentials of the cross-linked TM were reduced as confirmed by Western blotting and ELISA. Enzymatic cross-linking improved the gastrointestinal digestibility and induced a lower level of degranulation in RBL-2H3 and KU812 cells. Moreover, cross-linked TM decreased anaphylactic symptoms, as well as reduced the serum levels of IgG1, IgE, histamine, tryptase, and mMCP-1. In spleen cells, CLC⁺ and CTG⁺ downregulated the Th2-related cytokines and upregulated IFN-γ and IL-10. These findings revealed that CTG⁺ has shown more potential than CLC⁺ in mitigating the allergenicity of TM by influencing the conformational structure, enhancing the digestibility, decreasing the cellular degranulation process, and positively modulating the Th1/Th2 immunobalance.

A Comprehensive Review on Natural Bioactive Compounds and Probiotics as Potential Therapeutics in Food Allergy Treatment

Food allergy is rising at an alarming rate and is a major public health concern. Globally, food allergy affects over 500 million people, often starting in early childhood and increasingly reported in adults. Commercially, only one approved oral immunotherapy-based treatment is currently available and other allergen-based immunotherapeutic are being investigated in clinical studies. As an alternative approach, a substantial amount of research has been conducted on natural compounds and probiotics, focusing on the immune modes of action, and therapeutic uses of such sources to tackle various immune-related diseases. Food allergy is primarily mediated by IgE antibodies and the suppression of allergic symptoms seems to be mostly modulated through a reduction of allergen-specific IgE antibodies, upregulation of blocking IgG, and downregulation of effector cell activation (e.g., mast cells) or expression of T-helper 2 (Th-2) cytokines. A wide variety of investigations conducted in small animal models or cell-based systems have reported on the efficacy of natural bioactive compounds and probiotics as potential anti-allergic therapeutics. However, very few lead compounds, unlike anti-cancer and anti-microbial applications, have been selected for clinical trials in the treatment of food allergies. Natural products or probiotic-based approaches appear to reduce the symptoms and/or target specific pathways independent of the implicated food allergen. This broad range therapeutic approach essentially provides a major advantage as several different types of food allergens can be targeted with one approach and potentially associated with a lower cost of development. This review provides a brief overview of the immune mechanisms underlying food allergy and allergen-specific immunotherapy, followed by a comprehensive collection of current studies conducted to investigate the therapeutic applications of natural compounds and probiotics, including discussions of their mode of action and immunological aspects of their disease-modifying capabilities.

The inhibitory activity of alginate against allergic reactions in an ovalbumin-induced mouse model

Marine seaweed polysaccharides have been considered as a potential resource for antiallergic therapy. Alginate is an acidic linear polysaccharide and soluble dietary fiber that was extracted from brown algae, Laminaria japonica. The molecular weight of alginate was 108 kDa, and its water solution exhibited non-Newtonian characteristics, including viscoelasticity and shear-thinning behavior. The ability of alginate to inhibit allergic reactions was investigated in ovalbumin (OVA)-induced BALB/c mice, which have been widely used as a mouse model of egg allergy. The results showed that alginate could effectively attenuate the occurrence of allergic reactions, including improving the integrity of the intestinal epithelial villi and inhibition of mast cell degranulation in the jejunum, in OVA-induced mice. Moreover, after treatment with alginate, the levels of IgE, histamine and IL-4 in OVA-induced mice were remarkably decreased, and the levels of IFN-γ were markedly increased. In addition, the number of Treg cells in spleen tissues in OVA-induced mice was increased by alginate, and the OVA-induced differentiation of Th0 cells into Th2 cells was significantly inhibited. These results demonstrate that alginate possesses potential antiallergic activities in a mouse model of egg allergy, which might provide important evidence that alginate, extracted from Laminaria japonica, can be developed into a novel functional food for inhibiting egg allergy.

Coumarin alleviates ovalbumin-induced food anaphylaxis in a mouse model by affecting mast cell function

Coumarin is an important organic heterocyclic compound with a wide range of sources in nature. It plays an important role in the drug discovery process due to its existence in diverse biologically active compounds and its broad bioactivity. In this study, the anti-allergic activity of coumarin was evaluated using an ovalbumin (OVA)-induced mouse food allergy model and an immunoglobulin (Ig)E mediated mouse bone marrow-derived mast cell (BMMC) model. Coumarin could alleviate the OVA-induced allergic symptoms, decrease the diarrhea rates, and promote the rectal temperature rise in allergic mice. Moreover, coumarin had the ability to reduce the levels of histamine and mouse mast cell proteinases, inhibit OVA-specific IgE, and significantly decrease the population of mast cells in the spleen and mesenteric lymph nodes. Coumarin could also significantly suppress mast cell-dependent passive cutaneous anaphylaxis. Additionally, the number of mature BMMCs was decreased as coumarin caused the suppression of c-KIT receptors. Furthermore, coumarin up-regulated the apoptosis of OVA-activated BMMCs in a concentration-dependent manner. In conclusion, coumarin displayed effective anti-food allergy activity via the regulation of mast cell function and numbers. Coumarin and its derivatives provide a new direction for the development of anti-food allergic drug components.

Red Algae Sulfated Polysaccharides Effervescent Tablets Attenuated Ovalbumin-Induced Anaphylaxis by Upregulating Regulatory T cells in Mouse Models

Red algae sulfated polysaccharides (RASP) were extracted from Porphyra haitanensis and Gracilaria lemaneiformis. RASP were applied to effervescent tablets to develop a type of functional food, termed red algae sulfated polysaccharide effervescent tablets (RASPET), based on the antiallergic activities of RASP. The antiallergic activities and the mechanisms of RASPET were investigated in an ovalbumin (OVA)-induced mouse model of food allergy. The results revealed that RASPET alleviated intestinal villi injury by scanning electron microscopy and anaphylactic symptoms; reduced OVA-specific immunoglobulin E, histamine, and mast cell protease-1 levels in the serum; reduced the level of serum interleukin-4; increased serum interferon-γ level; and decreased B cell and mast cell populations. Remarkably, RASPET increased the levels of serum interleukin-10, transforming growth factor-β, and upregulated splenic CD4⁺foxp3⁺ T cell populations (15.28, 16.82, and 17.58%, respectively) compared to the OVA group (13.17%). In conclusion, RASPET attenuated OVA-induced anaphylaxis via the upregulation of regulatory T cells.

A dietary polysaccharide from Eucheuma cottonii downregulates proinflammatory cytokines and ameliorates osteoarthritis-associated cartilage degradation in obese rats

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common form of arthritis, which is characterized by the degeneration of articular cartilage, leading to joint dysfunction. Oral drug therapy seems to ameliorate some signs and symptoms of OA, but may be accompanied by side effects and does not appear to be effective long-term. Seaweed has received much attention for pharmacological application due to its various biomedical properties, including the anti-inflammation, antitumor, and antioxidant effects. This study investigated the ameliorative effects of a dietary polysaccharide from Eucheuma cottonii extract (ECE) on an anterior cruciate ligament transection with partial medial meniscectomy surgery (ACLT+MMx) to induce OA in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed an HFD for 12 weeks before ACLT+MMx surgery, after which they were administered a daily oral gavage of saline (Sham, OB Sham, and OBOA) and either low-dose ECE (100 mg per kg body weight), high-dose ECE (400 mg per kg body weight), or glucosamine sulfate as a positive control (OBOAGS; 200 mg per kg body weight) for 5 weeks. Treatment with ECE decreased the body weight, triglyceride and total cholesterol (TC) levels, and the TC/high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-C ratio in the obese rats. Additionally, ECE downregulated the expression of proinflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β, and leptin, and suppressed nuclear factor-kappa B and extracellular-signal-regulated kinase-1/2 expression, resulting in a decrease in the levels of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1 and MMP-13 and prostaglandin-E₂ and attenuated cartilage degradation. These results demonstrate that the dietary polysaccharide from ECE can suppress OA development in obese rats, suggesting its potential efficacy as a promising candidate for OA treatment.

Non-digestible oligosaccharides scFOS/lcFOS facilitate safe subcutaneous immunotherapy for peanut allergy

BACKGROUND

Improving the safety of subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) for food allergy is necessary to reduce side effects and achieve long-term tolerance. We determined the effect of dietary supplementation with 1% non-digestible short- and long-chain fructo-oligosaccharides (scFOS/lcFOS) on safety and efficacy of SCIT using a peanut allergy mouse model.

METHODS

After sensitization, mice received a scFOS/lcFOS or control diet for the rest of the study. To study safety of SCIT, mice were dosed with a single subcutaneous injection of peanut extract (PE) or PBS. To study efficacy, mice were dosed subcutaneously (SCIT, 3 times/week) with PE or PBS for 3 weeks. Hereafter, acute allergic skin responses, anaphylactic shock symptoms and body temperature were assessed. To study the mechanism in vitro, the human IgE receptor (FcεRI)-transfected rat mast cell (RBL) line was sensitized with an oligoclonal pool of chimeric human (chu)IgE antibodies against bovine β-lactoglobulin (BLG) and incubated with the oligosaccharides before exposure to BLG to assess direct the effect on degranulation.

RESULTS

scFOS/lcFOS reduced anaphylaxis caused by a single PE SCIT dose. scFOS/lcFOS alone also reduced the acute allergic skin response. Moreover, scFOS/lcFOS supplementation resulted in lower MMCP-1 levels in serum after PE SCIT dose compared to control diet, while antibody levels were not affected by the diet. In vitro incubation with scFOS/lcFOS at 0.5% suppressed the degranulation of IgE-sensitized RBL cells. However, dietary supplementation with scFOS/lcFOS did not improve the efficacy of SCIT.

CONCLUSIONS

We show that scFOS/lcFOS diet improves the safety of SCIT, as evidenced by lower anaphylactic responses without compromising the efficacy in a mouse model for peanut allergy. This effect is likely to result from the suppression of mast cell effector function.

Dihydromyricetin inhibited ovalbumin-induced mice allergic responses by suppressing the activation of mast cells

Dihydromyricetin (DMY) is a natural flavonoid compound derived from Lysionotus pauciflorus Maxim and has been found to possess therapeutic potential for allergic disease induced by food allergens.

Deep-Sea-Derived Butyrolactone I Suppresses Ovalbumin-Induced Anaphylaxis by Regulating Mast Cell Function in a Murine Model

Deep-sea-derived butyrolactone I (BTL-I), which was identified as a type of butanolide, was isolated from Aspergillus sp. Ovalbumin (OVA)-induced BALB/c anaphylaxis was established to explore the antifood allergic activity of BTL-I. As a result, BTL-I was able to alleviate OVA-induced allergy symptoms, reduce the levels of histamine and mouse mast cell proteinases, inhibit OVA-specific IgE, and decrease the population of mast cells in the spleen and mesenteric lymph nodes. BTL-I also significantly suppressed mast-dependent passive cutaneous anaphylaxis. Additionally, the maturation of bone marrow-derived mast cells (BMMCs) declined as BTL-I caused down-regulation of c-KIT receptors. Furthermore, molecular docking analyses revealed that BTL-I interacted with the inhibitory receptor, FcγRIIB. In conclusion, the reduction of mast cell function by deep-sea-derived BTL-I as well as its interactions with the inhibitory receptor, FcγRIIB, may contribute to BTL-I-related protection against food anaphylaxis.

Effect of Dietary Fiber and Metabolites on Mast Cell Activation and Mast Cell-Associated Diseases

Many mast cell-associated diseases, including allergies and asthma, have seen a strong increase in prevalence during the past decades, especially in Western(ized) countries. It has been suggested that a Western diet may contribute to the prevalence and manifestation of allergies and asthma through reduced intake of dietary fiber and the subsequent production of their metabolites. Indeed, dietary fiber and its metabolites have been shown to positively influence the development of immune disorders via changes in microbiota composition and the regulation of B- and T-cell activation. However, the effects of these dietary components on the activation of mast cells, key effector cells of the inflammatory response in allergies and asthma, remain poorly characterized. Due to their location in the gut and vascularized tissues, mast cells are exposed to high concentrations of dietary fiber and/or its metabolites. Here, we provide a focused overview of current findings regarding the direct effects of dietary fiber and its various metabolites on the regulation of mast cell activity and the pathophysiology of mast cell-associated diseases.

Inhibitory Activities of Compounds from the Marine Actinomycete Williamsia sp. MCCC 1A11233 Variant on IgE-Mediated Mast Cells and Passive Cutaneous Anaphylaxis

The compounds of the deep-sea-derived marine Williamsia sp. MCCC 1A11233 (CDMW) were isolated, which are secondary metabolites of the actinomycetes. In this study, seven kinds of CDMW were found to decrease degranulation and histamine release in immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated rat basophilic leukemia (RBL)-2H3 cells. The production of cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-4) was inhibited by these CDMW in RBL-2H3 cells, and their chemical structures were established mainly based on detailed analysis of their NMR spectra. CDMW-3, CDMW-5, and CDMW-15 were further demonstrated to block mast cell-dependent passive cutaneous anaphylaxis in IgE-sensitized mice. Bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMMCs) were established to clarify the effect of CDMW-3, CDMW-5, and CDMW-15 on mast cells. The seven kinds of CDMW decreased the degranulation and histamine release of BMMCs. Furthermore, flow cytometry results indicated that CDMW-3, CDMW-5, and CDMW-15 increased the annexin⁺ cell population of BMMCs. In conclusion, CDMW-3, CDMW-5, and CDMW-15 have obvious antiallergic activity due to induction of the apoptosis of mast cells.