Enhancement of Natural Killer Cell Activity in Healthy Subjects by Immulina, a Spirulina Extract Enriched for Braun-Type Lipoproteins

• Published in: Planta medica Vol. 76; no. 16; p. 1802
• Main Authors: Nielsen, Claus Henrik, Balachandran, Premalatha, Christensen, Ole, Pugh, Nirmal D, Tamta, Hemlata, Sufka, Kenneth J, Wu, Xiangmei, Walsted, Anette, Schjørring-Thyssen, Michelle, Enevold, Christian, Pasco, David S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany 01.11.2010
• Subjects: Adjuvants, Immunologic - pharmacology; Adjuvants, Immunologic - therapeutic use; Adult; Aged; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic - pharmacology; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic - therapeutic use; Arthrospira; Biomarkers - metabolism; CD4-positive T-lymphocytes; Cell Line, Tumor; Cross-Over Studies; diet; Dietary Supplements; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Double-Blind Method; Female; gene expression; Humans; Killer Cells, Natural - drug effects; Leukemia, Erythroblastic, Acute - drug therapy; Leukocytes, Mononuclear - drug effects; lipoproteins; Lipoproteins - pharmacology; Lipoproteins - therapeutic use; Lymphocyte Activation - drug effects; Male; messenger RNA; mice; Middle Aged; monocytes; natural killer cells; NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily K - genetics; NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily K - metabolism; Perforin - genetics; Perforin - metabolism; Phytotherapy; Pilot Projects; Plant Extracts - pharmacology; Plant Extracts - therapeutic use; Reference Values; RNA, Messenger - metabolism; Spirulina; Spirulina - chemistry; T-Lymphocytes; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0032-0943; 1439-0221
• DOI: 10.1055/s-0030-1250043

Immulina, a commercial extract of Arthrospira (Spirulina) platensis is a potent activator of THP-1 monocytes and CD4+ T cells IN VITRO and enhances several immunological functions in mice. We further characterized Immulina by determining that Braun-type lipoproteins are responsible for a major portion of the IN VITRO monocyte activation exhibited by this material. In order to understand the effect of Immulina on NK cell activity, a pilot study was conducted on ten healthy North American individuals who supplemented their diet with Immulina (400 mg/day) for seven days. We observed a 40% average increase in the killing of K562 tumor cells by NK cells (p < 0.01) after Immulina supplementation. In a separate placebo-controlled, crossover study involving 11 healthy Danish subjects, we observed increased mRNA expression of the NK cell marker NKG2D by 37% (p = 0.02) and by 55% (p = 0.0003) after administration of Immulina (200 mg and 400 mg per day, respectively) for seven days. The mRNA expression of the NK- and T-cell marker perforin increased by 75% (p = 0.008) after administration of 400 mg Immulina per day. Both markers displayed significant dose-dependent effects (p = 0.0003 and p = 0.02, respectively). The ratio between CD56 (bright) and CD56 (dim) NK cells was not affected by Immulina administration. In summary, two independent studies showed enhancement of NK cell activity following administration of Immulina for seven days.