Chemotactic effect of immunostimulant pronutrients on macrophages and lymphocytes
Cellular movement plays a key role in a wide variety of biological phenomena. It takes on a great importance within the immune response, especially with the movement of macrophages and lymphocytes.
The movement of macrophages and lymphocytes into tissues is an essential step in the immune response to an infection. The innate immune response protects us against 98% of infections, this gives us an idea of the importance of the movement of these immune cells.
Pronutrients are active molecules of botanical origin that stimulates animal physiology, without causing a pharmacological effect. Immunostimulant pronutrients improve immune response in both young individuals and adults.
Objective
Evaluate the chemotactic effect of immunostimulant pronutrients on macrophages and leukocytes.
Material and methods
The study was carried out at the University of Rovira y Virgili, in Tarragona (2002). Two treatments were performed, a control treatment, where macrophages and leukocytes were grown in physiological saline serum, and an experimental treatment where immune cells were grown in the presence of immunostimulant pronutrients. The migration of these cells was measured after the incubation period. Migration was expressed as a distance in mm traveled during the incubation period.
Results
A migration of macrophages and leukocytes of 16.5 mm and 3.37 mm respectively was observed in cells exposed to immunostimulant pronutrients. No migration was observed in the case of those grown in physiological saline serum.
Conclusions
Cell movement plays a key role in the innate immune response, as the movement of macrophages and lymphocytes is an essential step in the fight against infections.
Immunostimulant pronutrients act as chemotactic molecules, improving the immune response mediated by macrophages and lymphocytes.
Immunostimulant pronutrients are marketed under the name Alquernat Immuplus, by Biovet S.A.
Bibliography
- Sanchez-Madrid, F. & del Pozo, M. A. Leukocyte polarization in cell migration and immune interactions. 1999. EMBO J.18, pp. 501–511.
- Jones GE. Cellular signaling in macrophage migration and chemotaxis. 2000. J. Leukoc. Biol. 68: pp. 593–602.
Picture: Macrophage by Obli (CC BY-SA 2.0)
