Ingestion of High β-Glucan Barley Flour Enhances the Intestinal Immune System of Diet-Induced Obese Mice by Prebiotic Effects

The prebiotic effect of high β-glucan barley (HGB) flour on the innate immune system of high-fat model mice was investigated. C57BL/6J male mice were fed a high-fat diet supplemented with HGB flour for 90 days. Secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) in the cecum and serum were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). Real-time PCR was used to determine mRNA expression levels of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-10 and IL-6 in the ileum as well as the composition of the microbiota in the cecum. Concentrations of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and organic acids were analyzed by GC/MS. Concentrations of sIgA in the cecum and serum were increased in the HGB group compared to the control. Gene expression levels of IL-10 and polymeric immunoglobulin receptor (pIgR) significantly increased in the HGB group. HGB intake increased the bacterial count of microbiota, such as Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus. Concentrations of propionate and lactate in the cecum were increased in the HGB group, and a positive correlation was found between these organic acids and the IL-10 expression level. Our findings showed that HGB flour enhanced immune function such as IgA secretion and IL-10 expression, even when the immune system was deteriorated by a high-fat diet. Moreover, we found that HGB flour modulated the gut microbiota, which increased the concentration of SCFAs, thereby stimulating the immune system.     

幽门螺杆菌与慢性浅表性胃炎患者胃液中sIgA的关系

探讨分泌性免疫球蛋白Ａ在幽门螺杆菌导致的慢性浅表性胃炎中和。方法选取慢性浅表性胃炎患者６３例,按组织学分型分为轻、中、重度胃炎;按有无中性粒细胞的出现分为活动性和非活动性胃炎,采用放射免疫法测定ｓＩｇＡ,ＨＰ检测采用尿素酶试验及Ｗａｒｔｈｉｎ－Ｓｔａｒｒｙ染色。结论ＨＰ是慢性浅表性胃炎的重要致病因素,其致病机制与ｓＩｇＡ保护作用有密切关系。     

Secretory IgA adsorption and oral streptococcal adhesion to human enamel and artificial solid substrata with various surface free energies

In this paper, secretory IgA adsorption from a single component sIgA solution and from human whole saliva onto human enamel and artificial solid substrata with various surface free energies was studied as a function of time. ELISA indicated that screening or displacement of adsorbed sIgA by other salivary proteins occurred only on low surface free energy substrata, not on high surface free energy substrata such as enamel. In addition, the adhesion of three oral streptococcal strains (Streptococcus mitis BMS, S. sanguis 12, and S. mutans NS), also having widely different surface free energies, to sIgAcoated surfaces was studied. The adhesion of all three streptococcal strains was significantly reduced in the presence of a sIgA coating. However, ranking the adhesion data with respect to the various substrata revealed a similar order to that in the case of uncoated substrata, indicating that substratum properties were at least partly transferred by the adsorbed protein film to the interface with adhering micro-organisms. For S. sanguis 12 and S. mitis BMS, adhesion decreased proportionally with the amounts of sIgA detected by ELISA, but for S. mutans NS such relations with the amounts of sIgA detected on the protein-coated substrata were not found. Thus, for S. mutans NS a specific antibody effect seems to exist in addition to a non-specific protein effect like that observed for S. sanguis 12 and S. mitis BMS.     

Health Effects of Drinking Water Produced from Deep Sea Water: A Randomized Double-Blind Controlled Trial

Global trends focus on a balanced intake of foods and beverages to maintain health. Drinking water (MIU; hardness = 88) produced from deep sea water (DSW) collected offshore of Muroto, Japan, is considered healthy. We previously reported that the DSW-based drinking water (RDSW; hardness = 1000) improved human gut health. The aim of this randomized double-blind controlled trial was to assess the effects of MIU on human health. Volunteers were assigned to MIU (n = 41) or mineral water (control) groups (n = 41). Participants consumed 1 L of either water type daily for 12 weeks. A self-administered questionnaire was administered, and stool and urine samples were collected throughout the intervention. We measured the fecal biomarkers of nine short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA), as well as urinary isoflavones. In the MIU group, concentrations of three major SCFAs and sIgA increased postintervention. MIU intake significantly affected one SCFA (butyric acid). The metabolic efficiency of daidzein-to-equol conversion was significantly higher in the MIU group than in the control group throughout the intervention. MIU intake reflected the intestinal environment through increased production of three major SCFAs and sIgA, and accelerated daidzein-to-equol metabolic conversion, suggesting the beneficial health effects of MIU.     

温肺通窍方对儿童肺气虚寒型过敏性鼻炎黏膜免疫影响的临床研究

[目的]通过观察温肺通窍方治疗肺气虚寒型过敏性鼻炎患儿的临床疗效,探索温肺通窍方对此类患儿局部慢性炎症及黏膜免疫的影响.[方法]将84例肺气虚寒型过敏性鼻炎患儿随机分为试验组和对照组,每组各42例.试验组给予温肺通窍方治疗,对照组给予氯雷他定片治疗,疗程为7 d.观察2组患儿治疗前后鼻呼气一氧化氮(FeNO)浓度和鼻腔...     

理肺通络方对肺炎支原体肺炎大鼠肺泡灌洗液中sIgA的干预作用

目的 观察肺炎支原体肺炎大鼠肺泡灌洗液sIgA的含量及理肺通络方的干预作用。方法 将40只大鼠随机分为正常组、模型组、中药组、西药组，每组10只。一次性滴鼻感染肺炎支原体国际标准株（MPFH）菌液（每毫升含肺炎支原体10^7变色单位）造成肺炎支原体肺炎模型。造模第11 d起，除正常组外，其余各组分别灌服生理盐水、理肺通络方水煎剂、阿齐霉素溶液，2mL／只。中药组连续服药10d，西药组前、后3d灌药液，中间4d灌生理盐水。在治疗的第11d处死动物，观察各组大鼠血清MP—IgM滴度及右肺组织形态学，采用放免双抗夹心法检测sIgA含量。结果 模型组大鼠血清MP—IgM阳性，光镜下显示肺组织炎性细胞浸润和组织损伤明显；与正常组比较，模型组、中药组、西药组肺泡灌洗液中sIgA含量显著降低，有高度统计意义（P〈0．01）；与模型组比较，中药组、西药组sIgA含量显著升高（P〈0．01）；中药组与西药组比较有统计意义（P〈0．05）。结论 肺炎支原体肺炎大鼠肺泡灌洗液sIgA含量下降，理肺通络合剂能提高呼吸道局部sIgA含量，且优于西药阿齐霉素，可能有助于降低再次感染的几率。     

ANTIBODY PRODUCTION BY THE MAMMARY GLAND IN MOTHERS AFTER ARTIFICIAL ORAL COLONISATION OF THEIR INFANTS WITH A NON-PATHOGENIC STRAIN E. COLI 083

Abstract. Twenty five breast-fed and 25 formula-fed infants were colonised by oral administration of a living suspension of E. coli 083. Twenty breast-fed and 13 formula-fed infants were followed as controls. Specific antibody titres in serum, stool filtrates and milk, and secretory IgA levels in stool filtrates and milk were determined in samples taken fortnightly from birth until 20 weeks of age. The haemagglutinating antibody in serum and milk increased in the colonised groups, but in stool filtrates an inhibitory effect of breast-milk was demonstrated. Secretory IgA levels in stool filtrates were significantly higher in colonised infants and breast-fed controls than in bottle-fed infants during the period of breast feeding. Then levels in the colonised groups remained high, but in breast-fed controls they decreased to values found in bottle-fed controls. Artificial colonisation evoked local antibody and secretory IgA responses in the intestine, as well as an antibody response in the mother's mammary gland. The possible protective effect of those responses is discussed.     

茯苓多糖对小鼠肠道分泌型免疫球蛋白A, CD80,CD86表达的影响

目的:观察茯苓多糖对卵清白蛋白(OVA)诱导的小鼠肠道黏膜免疫应答的影响,探讨其对黏膜免疫的调节作用及其相关机制。方法:BALB/c小鼠随机分为2组:对照组和茯苓多糖组,对照组口服给予等体积生理盐水,茯苓多糖组每日按体重口服给药1次,剂量为200 mg·kg-1,2组小鼠给药1周后,1次性给予每只小鼠口服抗原卵清白蛋白(OVA)5 mg进行免疫,分别于免疫后1,2,3周,收集小鼠粪便样本,ELISA检测小鼠粪便OVA特异性分泌型免疫球蛋白A(sIgA);2组小鼠给药1周后,分离小鼠派氏结,流式细胞术检测派氏结(Peyer’s patches)中B淋巴细胞共刺激分子CD80,CD86表达。结果:对照组小鼠粪便中OVA特异性sIgA在1,2,3周时分别为(19.39±2.89),(17.60±5.65),(14.48±4.55)μg·L-1,茯苓多糖组为(28.44±3.72),(42.24±5.14),(26.29±4.82)μg·L-1,与对照组比较有统计学意义(P<0.05)。对照组小鼠派氏结B细胞CD80,CD86表达率(%)分别为1.84±0.11和16.50±1.47;茯苓多糖组表达为2.76±0.29,22.02±1.89,高于对照组,有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论:茯苓多糖对肠道sIgA分泌具有调节作用,这与其活化派氏结B淋巴细胞有关。     

Dynamic changes in salivary cortisol and secretory immunoglobulin A response to acute stress

Psychological stress leads to the secretion of cortisol. While this psychoneuroendocrine response helps to maintain physiological as well as psychological homeostasis under stress, exaggerated release of cortisol can suppress aspects of immune function and have negative effects on health. The present study set out to investigate the dynamic changes in salivary secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) and cortisol before and after acute stress, and to analyse the relationship between sIgA and cortisol trend. Thirty‐five healthy subjects took part in this study. All subjects underwent an acute stress test (mental arithmetic task). Salivary cortisol and sIgA responses were assessed repeatedly before the stress test, immediately after the stress test and 20 min after the stress test. The levels of salivary cortisol and sIgA both significantly increased after the acute mental arithmetic challenge. However, the increase of sIgA is transient; the sIgA fall was significantly correlated with the cortisol rise during the 20 min after stress (r = 0.569, p < 0.001). These results may help determine the timing of effective intervention in order to reduce the hypersecretion of cortisol and improve mucosal immune function. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.