Immunostimulatory effect of spinach aqueous extract on mouse macrophage-like J774.1 cells and mouse primary peritoneal macrophages

• Published in: Bioscience, biotechnology, and biochemistry biotechnology, and biochemistry, 2016-07, Vol.80 (7), p.1393-1402
• Main Authors: Ishida, Momoko, Ose, Saya, Nishi, Kosuke, Sugahara, Takuya
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adjuvants, Immunologic - pharmacology; Animals; Cell Line; Female; Gene Expression; immunostimulatory effect; Interleukin-6 - agonists; Interleukin-6 - genetics; Interleukin-6 - immunology; J774.1 cells; macrophage activation; Macrophages, Peritoneal - cytology; Macrophages, Peritoneal - drug effects; Macrophages, Peritoneal - immunology; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases - genetics; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases - immunology; NF-kappa B - agonists; NF-kappa B - genetics; NF-kappa B - immunology; peritoneal macrophages; Phagocytosis - drug effects; phagocytosis activity; Plant Extracts - pharmacology; Primary Cell Culture; RNA, Messenger - agonists; RNA, Messenger - genetics; RNA, Messenger - immunology; spinach; Spinacia oleracea - chemistry; Toll-Like Receptor 4 - genetics; Toll-Like Receptor 4 - immunology; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha - agonists; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha - genetics; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha - immunology
• ISSN: 0916-8451; 1347-6947
• DOI: 10.1080/09168451.2016.1146068

We herein report the immunostimulatory effect of spinach aqueous extract (SAE) on mouse macrophage-like J774.1 cells and mouse primary peritoneal macrophages. SAE significantly enhanced the production of interleukin (IL)-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α by both J774.1 cells and peritoneal macrophages by enhancing the expression levels of these cytokine genes. In addition, the phagocytosis activity of J774.1 cells was facilitated by SAE. Immunoblot analysis revealed that SAE activates mitogen-activated protein kinase and nuclear factor-κB cascades. It was found that SAE activates macrophages through not only TLR4, but also other receptors. The production of IL-6 was significantly enhanced by peritoneal macrophages from SAE-administered BALB/c mice, suggesting that SAE has a potential to stimulate macrophage activity in vivo. Taken together, these data indicate that SAE would be a beneficial functional food with immunostimulatory effects on macrophages.