Fucoidan suppresses IgE production in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with atopic dermatitis

Arch Dermatol Res. 2011 Aug;303(6):425-31. doi: 10.1007/s00403-010-1115-7. Epub 2010 Dec 30.

Abstract

We previously reported that fucoidan, a dietary fiber purified from seaweed, inhibited IgE production in B cells from mice spleen in vitro and ovalbumin-sensitized mice in vivo. In this study, we examined the effect of fucoidan on IgE production in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) in vitro. PBMC, obtained from healthy donors or patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) with high levels of serum IgE, were cultured with IL-4 and anti-CD40 antibody in the presence or absence of fucoidan. Fucoidan significantly reduced IgE production in PBMC without affecting cell proliferation and IFN-γ production. Fucoidan also inhibited immunoglobulin germline transcripts of B cells in PBMC, and decreased the number of IgE-secreting cells. The inhibitory effects of fucoidan were similarly observed for both PBMC from patients with AD and those with healthy donors. Our findings indicate that fucoidan suppresses IgE induction by inhibiting immunoglobulin class-switching to IgE in human B cells, even after the onset of AD.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / pharmacology
  • Antibody Formation / drug effects
  • B-Lymphocytes / drug effects*
  • B-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • B-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • B-Lymphocytes / pathology
  • CD40 Antigens / immunology
  • Dermatitis, Atopic / drug therapy*
  • Dermatitis, Atopic / immunology
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin Class Switching
  • Immunoglobulin E / metabolism
  • Immunosuppression Therapy
  • Interleukin-4 / immunology
  • Interleukin-4 / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Polysaccharides / pharmacology*
  • Seaweed

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • CD40 Antigens
  • Polysaccharides
  • Interleukin-4
  • Immunoglobulin E
  • fucoidan