Immunomodulatory effects of flazin from Crassostrea sikamea on splenic lymphocytes of Sprague-Dawley rats

• Published in: Chinese journal of natural medicines 2021-11, Vol.19 (11), p.836-843
• Main Authors: KONG, Ying, WANG, Li-Hua, LIU, Lei, ZHENG, Li-Hua, BAO, Yong-Li, LIU, Xiu-Xian, WANG, Shu-Yue, SONG, Zhen-Bo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Crassostrea sikamea; Cytokine secretion; Flazin; Immunomodulatory effect; Splenic lymphocyte
• ISSN: 1875-5364; 1875-5364
• DOI: 10.1016/S1875-5364(21)60119-X

Crassostrea sikamea (C.sikamea) is an important edible and medicinal seafood in China. In the present study, a compound named flazin was separated and identified from the ethyl acetate extract of C.sikamea (EAECs) for the first time. In addition, the 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetra zolium (MTS) assay revealed that EAECs and flazin inhibited the transformation of splenic lymphocytes in vitro. Moreover, flazin (20 μg·mL–1) altered the populations of splenic lymphocyte subtypes. Real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) analysis and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) showed that flazin suppressed the mRNA expression and secretion of TNF-α and IL-2, and reversed Concanavalin A (ConA)-induced mRNA up-regulation and protein secretion of TNF-α and IL-2. Western blot results showed that flazin reversed ConA-induced increases in p-ERK1/2 and p-p38 in splenocytes. In conclusion, flazin exhibits effective immunomodulatory function and may be useful for treating immune-related disorders, which indicates the application potential of C.sikamea as a functional food or immunomodulator.