Dietary Fibers Modulate Indices of Intestinal Immune Function in Rats

Abstract

To explore the immunological roles of dietary fiber, male 4-wk-old Sprague-Dawley rats were fed for 2 wk cellulose (water-insoluble), konjak mannan (water-soluble), pectin (water-soluble) or chitosan (acid-soluble) at 5 g/100 g diet. Serum IgE concentrations in rats fed konjak mannan, pectin and chitosan were significantly lower than in those fed cellulose (mean +/- SEM: 5.0 +/- 1.1, 3.6 +/- 1.3, 3.0 +/- 1.2 and 9.6 +/- 1.9 microg/L, respectively). Rats fed pectin had significantly higher serum IgA and IgG concentrations (358 +/- 38 and 424 +/- 36 mg/L for IgA and IgG, respectively) than those fed cellulose (240 +/- 31 and 337 +/- 25 mg/L) or chitosan (176 +/- 22 and 379 +/- 23 mg/L), while the IgM concentration did not differ among the groups. Concentrations of IgA, IgG and IgM in mesenteric lymph node (MLN) lymphocytes generally were greater, while IgE concentration was lower, in rats fed pectin and chitosan than in those fed cellulose. The proportion of CD4+ T-cells in MLN lymphocytes was also dietary fiber-dependent, and the CD4+/CD8+ ratio was significantly higher in the pectin fed group than in all other groups. Under certain experimental conditions, MLN lymphocytes from rats fed pectin had markedly greater interferon-gamma concentration than cells from other groups, while the effect on tumor necrosis factor-alpha concentration was less marked. Thus, dietary fiber may have an immunoregulatory effect on the intestinal immune system of rats.

Effects of Chitosan on the Secretion of Cytokines and Expression of Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase mRNA in Peritoneal Macrophages of Broiler Chicken

“…Nishimura et al (1986) and Peluso et al (1994) have shown that chitosan can stimulate the macrophage and increase IL-1, IL-2and TNF-α secretion in the rats. Lim et al (1997) also have shown the similar result that chitosan improved the immune functions by upregulating the TNF-α, IL-1 and M-CSF secretion in the macrophage of rats. The present study showed a dose-dependent tendency between chitosan supplement in the medium and the levels of IL-1, IL-2 and TNF-α in peritoneal macrophage culture fluid of broiler chickens.…”

Effects of dietary supplementation of chitosan on immune and antioxidative function in beef cattle

“…Amino groups of CHI could be recognized by the immune system, then stimulate immune cells to proliferate and differentiate, and to release immunoglobulins (Tokura et al 1999). Lim et al (1997) showed that concentrations of IgG, IgA, and IgM in mesenteric lymph node (MLN) lymphocytes were generally higher in rats fed CHI than in those fed cellulose. Furthermore, dietary supplementation of CHI in piglets increased serum immunoglobulins and recouped a loss which was caused by early weaning (Yin et al 2008;Li et al 2013).…”

Prevention by Chitosan of Myelotoxicity, Gastrointestinal Toxicity and Immunocompetent Organic Toxicity Induced by 5‐Fluorouracil without Loss of Antitumor Activity in Mice

“…We reported that chitosan enhances the natural killer (NK) activity of mouse lymphocytes in vitro. 1) Lim et al 46) reported that the administration of chitosan reduced serum immunoglobulin (Ig) A and IgE concentrations, and increased interferon (IFN)-γ and tumor necrosis factor α production induced by concanavalin A in isolated mesenteric lymph node lymphocytes. Shibata et al 47) reported that C57BL/6 mice pretreated with monoclonal antibodies against mouse IFN-γ or NK.1.1 showed a markedly decreased level of alveolar macrophage priming following injection of chitin particles.…”