The influence of dietary supplementation with the leucine metabolite β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate (HMB) on the chemotaxis, phagocytosis and respiratory burst of peripheral blood granulocytes and monocytes in calves

Abstract

Background: A healthy immune system plays a particularly important role in newborns, including in calves that are far more susceptible to infections (viral, bacterial and other) than adult individuals. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the influence of HMB on the chemotactic activity (MIGRATEST® kit), phagocytic activity (PHAGOTEST® kit) and oxidative burst (BURSTTEST® kit) of monocytes and granulocytes in the peripheral blood of calves by flow cytometry. Results: An analysis of granulocyte and monocyte chemotactic activity and phagocytic activity revealed significantly higher levels of phagocytic activity in calves administered HMB than in the control group, expressed in terms of the percentage of phagocytising cells and mean fluorescence intensity (MFI). HMB also had a positive effect on the oxidative metabolism of monocytes and granulocytes stimulated with PMA (4-phorbol-12-β-myristate-13-acetate) and Escherichia coli bacteria, expressed as MFI values and the percentage of oxidative metabolism. Conclusion: HMB stimulates non-specific cell-mediated immunity, which is a very important consideration in newborn calves that are exposed to adverse environmental factors in the first weeks of their life. The supplementation of animal diets with HMB for both preventive and therapeutic purposes can also reduce the use of antibiotics in animal production.

Biomarker Changes in Response to a 12-Week Supplementation of an Oral Nutritional Supplement Enriched with Protein, Vitamin D and HMB in Malnourished Community Dwelling Older Adults with Sarcopenia

“…Vitamin D is well recognized as an immune modulator [ 58 ]. A positive benefit of HMB on immunity has been previously demonstrated in animals [ 59 , 60 , 61 ]. Along these lines, another nutritional intervention study reported an increase in IgM levels in response to ONS containingHMB in hospitalized older patients with comorbidities [ 62 ].…”

Baseline Elevations of Leukotriene Metabolites and Altered Plasmalogens Are Prognostic Biomarkers of Plaque Progression in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

“…Increased consumption of alpha keto acids is also evidenced by the increased production of the downstream metabolite, isovalerate ( Figures 5A,B ). Isovalerate enhances chemotaxis and phagocytosis of granulocytes and monocytes ( 30 , 31 ). Interestingly, isovalerate has previously been studied as a novel biomarker for diabetic nephropathy and endometrial cancer ( 32 , 33 ).…”