Yam Storage Protein Dioscorins from Dioscorea alata and Dioscorea japonica Exhibit Distinct Immunomodulatory Activities in Mice

• Published in: Journal of agricultural and food chemistry 2009-06, Vol.57 (11), p.4606-4613
• Main Authors: Lin, Pei-Lan, Lin, Kuo-Wei, Weng, Ching-Feng, Lin, Kuo-Chih
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: animal models; Animals; B-lymphocytes; B-Lymphocytes - immunology; Bioactive Constituents; Biological and medical sciences; bone marrow; cell lines; Cell Proliferation; Cells, Cultured; cultured cells; cytokines; Cytokines - immunology; Dioscorea; Dioscorea - chemistry; Dioscorea alata; Dioscorea japonica; Food industries; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; immune response; Immunologic Factors - administration & dosage; immunomodulators; inflammation; intraperitoneal injection; Male; medicinal properties; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Phagocytosis; Plant Extracts - immunology; plant proteins; Plant Proteins - administration & dosage; Plant Proteins - immunology; spleen; Spleen - cytology; Spleen - immunology; storage proteins; T-lymphocytes; T-Lymphocytes - immunology; thymus gland; Thymus Gland - cytology; Thymus Gland - immunology; vegetable crops; yams
• ISSN: 0021-8561; 1520-5118
• DOI: 10.1021/jf8038499

The aim of this study was to elucidate the effect of the major storage protein dioscorin isolated from two different yam species, Tainong No. 1 (TN1-dioscorins) and Japanese yam (Dj-dioscorins), on the immune activities of mice. Dj-dioscorins, like TN1-dioscorins, could induce expression of the pro-inflammatory cytokines and stimulate phagocytosis of RAW 264.7. Intraperitoneal injection of the TN1-dioscorins into mice stimulated phagocytosis of bone marrow, spleen, and thymic cells. In contrast, the T and B cells in bone marrow, spleen, and thymus isolated from mice injected with Dj-dioscorins had higher proliferative responses to mitogens. Furthermore, Dj-dioscorins enhanced proliferation of CD4+, CD8+, and Tim3+ (Th1) cells in spleen and CD19+ cells in both spleen and thymus. Supplement of Dj-dioscorins in the lymphoid cells isolated from Dj-dioscorins primed mice induced cell proliferation of both spleen and thymic cells. These findings indicated that TN1-dioscorins have a higher ability to stimulate the phagocytic activity of the lymphoid cells than Dj-dioscorins, whereas Dj-dioscorins possess more abilities than TN1-dioscorins to enhance the proliferation of the lymphoid cells.