Studies of immunomodulating actions of carotenoids. I. Effects of beta-carotene and astaxanthin on murine lymphocyte functions and cell surface marker expression in in vitro culture system

Nutr Cancer. 1991;16(2):93-105. doi: 10.1080/01635589109514148.

Abstract

The immunomodulating effects of carotenoids (beta-carotene and astaxanthin) on mouse lymphocytes were studied in in vitro culture system by use of assay for mitogen responses of spleen cells, thymocyte proliferation, interleukin 2 production, and antibody (Ab) production in vitro in response to sheep red blood cells. Changes of cell surface markers on spleen lymphocytes including Ia antigen (Ag), surface immunoglobulin, B220, and Thy-1 Ag were also examined. At a concentration of 10(-8) M, carotenoids did not show any significant effect on mitogen responses (phytohemagglutinin P and concanavalin A) on murine spleen cells, irrespective of the concentrations of mitogens used. Interleukin 2 production by murine spleen cells was not significantly altered by carotenoids in the culture media (10(-7) to 10(-9) M). [3H]thymidine incorporation by B6 thymocytes was somewhat enhanced in the presence of astaxanthin or beta-carotene when cultured in the concentration of 10(6)/ml. At higher concentrations of cells (5 x 10(6)/ml), such an effect was not observed. In assays of in vitro Ab production in response to sheep red blood cells, B6 spleen cells produced significantly more Ab-forming cells (plaque-forming cells, immunoglobulins M and G) in the presence of astaxanthin (greater than 10(-8) M) but not beta-carotene. Expression of Ia Ag seemed to be moderately enhanced on both Thy-1+ and Thy-1- spleen cells in the presence of astaxanthin (greater than 10(-9) M) but not beta-carotene. The expression of Thy-1 and surface immunoglobulin seemed unchanged with the treatment of these carotenoids. These results indicate that immunomodulating actions of carotenoids are not necessarily related to provitamin A activity, because astaxanthin, which does not have provitamin A activity, showed more significant effects in these bioassays and also indicate that such actions of carotenoid demonstrated in this study may be difficult to explain only by its oxygen-quenching capacity.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adjuvants, Immunologic / pharmacology*
  • Animals
  • Antibody Formation / physiology
  • Antigens, Surface / analysis*
  • Carotenoids / pharmacology*
  • Cell Division / physiology
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Erythrocytes / physiology
  • Female
  • Interleukin-2 / biosynthesis
  • Lymphocytes / drug effects*
  • Lymphocytes / immunology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred Strains
  • Mitogens / pharmacology
  • Thymus Gland / cytology
  • Xanthophylls
  • beta Carotene

Substances

  • Adjuvants, Immunologic
  • Antigens, Surface
  • Interleukin-2
  • Mitogens
  • Xanthophylls
  • beta Carotene
  • Carotenoids
  • astaxanthine