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Planta Med 2010; 76(16): 1802-1808
DOI: 10.1055/s-0030-1250043
Clinical Study
Original Papers
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Enhancement of Natural Killer Cell Activity in Healthy Subjects by Immulina®, a Spirulina Extract Enriched for Braun-Type Lipoproteins

Claus Henrik Nielsen1 , Premalatha Balachandran2 , 3 , Ole Christensen1 , Nirmal D. Pugh2 , 3 , Hemlata Tamta2 , 3 , Kenneth J. Sufka3 , 5 , 6 , Xiangmei Wu2 , 3 , Anette Walsted7 , Michelle Schjørring-Thyssen8 , Christian Enevold1 , David S. Pasco2 , 3 , 4
  • 1Institute for Inflammation Research, Rigshospitalet National University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
  • 2National Center for Natural Products Research, University of Mississippi, University, MS, USA
  • 3Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Mississippi, University, MS, USA
  • 4Department of Pharmacognosy, University of Mississippi, University, MS, USA
  • 5Department of Psychology, University of Mississippi, University, MS, USA
  • 6Department of Physiology, University of Mississippi, University, MS, USA
  • 7Department of Cardiology P, Copenhagen University Hospital in Gentofte, Hellerup, Denmark
  • 8Nordic Immotech A/S, Greve, Denmark
Weitere Informationen

Publikationsverlauf

received February 17, 2010 revised May 5, 2010

accepted May 12, 2010

Publikationsdatum:
17. Juni 2010 (online)

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Abstract

Immulina®, a commercial extract of Arthrospira (Spirulina) platensis is a potent activator of THP-1 monocytes and CD4+ T cells in vitro and enhances several immunological functions in mice. We further characterized Immulina® by determining that Braun-type lipoproteins are responsible for a major portion of the in vitro monocyte activation exhibited by this material. In order to understand the effect of Immulina® on NK cell activity, a pilot study was conducted on ten healthy North American individuals who supplemented their diet with Immulina® (400 mg/day) for seven days. We observed a 40 % average increase in the killing of K562 tumor cells by NK cells (p < 0.01) after Immulina® supplementation. In a separate placebo-controlled, crossover study involving 11 healthy Danish subjects, we observed increased mRNA expression of the NK cell marker NKG2D by 37 % (p = 0.02) and by 55 % (p = 0.0003) after administration of Immulina® (200 mg and 400 mg per day, respectively) for seven days. The mRNA expression of the NK- and T-cell marker perforin increased by 75 % (p = 0.008) after administration of 400 mg Immulina® per day. Both markers displayed significant dose-dependent effects (p = 0.0003 and p = 0.02, respectively). The ratio between CD56bright and CD56dim NK cells was not affected by Immulina® administration. In summary, two independent studies showed enhancement of NK cell activity following administration of Immulina® for seven days.

Key words

Arthrospira platensis - Phormidiaceae - Spirulina - natural killer (NK) cells - Braun‐type lipoproteins - Immulina - clinical trial

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David S. Pasco, Ph.D.

National Center for Natural Products Research
School of Pharmacy
University of Mississippi

University Ave

University, MS 38677

USA

Telefon: +16 6 29 15 71 30

Fax: +16 6 29 15 70 62

eMail: dpasco@olemiss.edu

    www.thieme-connect.de/ejournals/toc/plantamedica