plSSN : 0374-8111 | elSSN : 2287-8815
plSSN : 0374-8111 | elSSN : 2287-8815
plSSN : 0374-8111elSSN : 2287-8815
이슬아·최진실·김춘성*
조선대학교 치의예과
Pyropia seriata (PS), a seaweed belonging to the red algae family, is mainly cultivated in the coastal areas of Korea and Japan. PS has been reported to have functions related to heat stress tolerance; however, its other functions remain unclear. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the immune-enhancing effects of aqueous extract of PS (AePS) using mouse RAW264.7 macrophages and cyclophosphamide (CPA)-induced immuno-suppressed experimental animals. AePS significantly increased the expression of nitric oxide (NO), inducible nitiric oxide synthase, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α without toxicity in RAW264.7 cells. Western blotting and NO assay confirmed that these effects were mediated through the mitogen-activated protein kinase and nuclear factor kappa B signaling pathways. Daily oral administration of AePS to CPA-induced immune-suppressed animals for two weeks restored the size of their spleen to that of normal animals and caused a significant increase in splenocyte proliferation. The results of this study suggest that PS exerts an immune-enhancing effect by inducing the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, indicating its protential application as an immune-related functional materials.
Immunity, Macrophages, Pyropia seriata, Seaweed, Splenocytes