Free radicals damage immune cells and interfere with cytokine pathways. Antioxidants, such as astaxanthin, may protect immune cells against oxidative stress and membrane damage.
Jyonouchi at co-workers at the University of Minnesota, US, explored the effects of astaxanthin on antibody production in mouse spleen cells in relation to different antigen [1]. They found that astaxanthin enhanced in antibody production to T cell-dependent antigen but not to T-independent antigen. A year later the same lead author published a study demonstrating that astaxanthin supplementation may be beneficial in restoring humoral immune responses in older mice [2]. They measured the in vivo effects of astaxanthin and other carotenoids on antibody production in young and old mice and found that astaxanthin increased antibody production in response to T-dependent antigens. Their study concluded that astaxanthin supplementation may help to restoring humoral immune responses in older animals.
An in-vitro study conducted at Cruzeiro do Sul University, Brazil, explored the effects of astaxanthin treatment on free radical production and auto-oxidative injury in human lymphocytes [3]. Activated lymphocytes showed lower levels of superoxide radicals but higher kevels of nitric oxide radicals and intracellular calcium when treated with astaxanthin. Higher activities of dismutase and catalase also resulted in lower indexes of oxidative injury. On the other hand, astaxanthin reduced proliferative scores of the lymphocytes.
Chew and co-workers at the School of Food Science, Lewisburg, USA, tested the effects of astaxanthin intake on the immune response of dogs [4]. They found that the phytochemical increased delayed-type hypersensitivity response and concentrations of IgG and IgM and B cells. The authors concluded that astaxanthin improved cell-mediated and humoral immune response and inflammation in dogs.
[1] Studies of immunomodulating actions of carotenoids. II. Astaxanthin enhances in vitro antibody production to T-dependent antigens without facilitating polyclonal B-cell activation.
Nutr Cancer. 1993;19(3):269-80.
[2] Immunomodulating actions of carotenoids: enhancement of in vivo and in vitro antibody production to T-dependent antigens. Nutr Cancer. 1994;21(1):47-58.
[3] Astaxanthin prevents in vitro auto-oxidative injury in human lymphocytes.Cell Biol Toxicol. 2010 Oct;26(5):457-67.
[4] Dietary astaxanthin enhances immune response in dogs. Vet Immunol Immunopathol. 2010 Dec 14.
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