Enhancement of Human Adaptive Immune Responses by Administration of a High-Molecular-Weight Polysaccharide Extract from the Cyanobacterium Arthrospira platensis
Abstract
The effect of consumption of Immulina, a high-molecular-weight polysaccharide extract from the cyanobacterium Arthrospira platensis, on adaptive immune responses was investigated by evaluation of changes in leukocyte responsiveness to two foreign recall antigens, Candida albicans (CA) and tetanus toxoid (TT), in vitro. Consumption of Immulina by 11 healthy male volunteers caused an immediate, but temporary, increase of CA-induced CD4+ T-helper (Th) cell proliferation (P < .02). TT-induced Th cell proliferation was increased in individuals over 50 years of age (P < .05) and correlated with age (P < .02). Consumption for 8 days enhanced the CA-induced B cell proliferation (P < .02), but after 56 days a diminution was seen (P < .03). The CA-elicited production of the Th1 cytokines tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, interleukin (IL)-2, and interferon (IFN)-gamma was increased after Immunlina administration for 3 days (P < .001, < .03, and < .007, respectively), and increased IL-2 production persisted after 56 days (P < .004). The TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma, and IL-6 responses to TT were enhanced after 8 and 14 days (P < .002-.05), while IL-5 responses increased significantly within 3 days (P < .04) and fell below baseline levels after 14 days (P < .008). Conversely, consumption for 3 days inhibited the IL-4 responses to both CA and TT (P < .008 and P < .03, respectively). No effects on IL-10 responses were observed. Upon addition to normal mononuclear cells in vitro, Immulina elicited strong TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, and IL-6 responses, indicating that it acts by inducing a pro-inflammatory state. Taken together, the data suggest that Immulina causes an age-dependent, temporary enhancement of adaptive immune responses.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Claims the paper makes
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
Lobner et al. extracted a high molecular weight Immulina polysaccharide from Arthrospira platensis, which has a positive effect on the immune system.
“Lobner et al. extracted a high molecular weight Immulina polysaccharide from Arthrospira platensis, which has a positive effect on the immune system [75].”
From Application of Arthrospira platensis for Medicinal Purposes and the Food Industry: A Review of the Literature (2023) · cites this paper as [75]
Data on proliferation of lymphocytes and cytokines' production varied with the stimulus used.
“data on proliferation of lymphocytes and cytokines' production varied with the stimulus used”
From Antioxidant, Immunomodulating, and Microbial‐Modulating Activities of the Sustainable and Ecofriendly <i>Spirulina</i> (2017) · cites this paper as [93]
Cites
Miletzki, B., & Gleiter, C. H. (2005) · Bundesgesundheitsblatt - Gesundheitsforschung - Gesundheitsschutz · doi:10.1007/s00103-005-1024-7 · Cited by 9,401 · see citing works
Janeway, C. A., & Medzhitov, R. (2002) · Annual Review of Immunology · doi:10.1146/annurev.immunol.20.083001.084359 · Cited by 8,394 · see citing works
Bongartz, T., Sutton, A. J., Sweeting, M. J., Buchan, I. E., Matteson, E. L., & Montori, V. M. (2006) · JAMA · doi:10.1001/jama.295.19.2275 · Cited by 2,470 · see citing works
Tubach, F., Ravaud, P., Baron, G., Falissard, B., Logeart, I., Bellamy, N., Bombardier, C., Felson, D. T., Hochberg, M., van der Heijde, D. M. F. M., et al. (2004) · Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases · doi:10.1136/ard.2004.022905 · Cited by 1,095 · see citing works
Humanized anti–interleukin-6 receptor antibody treatment of multicentric Castleman disease
Nishimoto, N., Kanakura, Y., Aozasa, K., Johkoh, T., Nakamura, M., Nakano, S., Nakano, N., Ikeda, Y., Sasaki, T., Nishioka, K., et al. (2005) · Blood · doi:10.1182/blood-2004-12-4602 · Cited by 754 · see citing works
Microalgae as food and supplement
Kay, R. A., & Barton, L. L. (1991) · Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition · doi:10.1080/10408399109527556 · Cited by 408 · see citing works
Hirahashi, T., Matsumoto, M., Hazeki, K., Saeki, Y., Ui, M., & Seya, T. (2002) · International Immunopharmacology · doi:10.1016/s1567-5769(01)00166-7 · Cited by 288 · see citing works
Generation of gut‐homing T cells and their localization to the small intestinal mucosa
Johansson‐Lindbom, B., & Agace, W. W. (2007) · Immunological Reviews · doi:10.1111/j.1600-065x.2006.00482.x · Cited by 248 · see citing works
Pugh, N., Ross, S., ElSohly, H., ElSohly, M., & Pasco*, D. (2001) · Planta Medica · doi:10.1055/s-2001-18358 · Cited by 224 · see citing works
Dietary<i>Spirulina Platensis</i>Enhances Humoral and Cell-Mediated Immune Functions in Chickens
Qureshi, M. A., Garlich, J. D., & Kidd, M. T. (1996) · Immunopharmacology and Immunotoxicology · doi:10.3109/08923979609052748 · Cited by 172 · see citing works
Enhancement of antibody production in mice by dietary Spirulina platensis
HAYASHI, O., KATOH, T., & OKUWAKI, Y. (1994) · Journal of Nutritional Science and Vitaminology · doi:10.3177/jnsv.40.431 · Cited by 129 · see citing works
Activation of Autoimmunity Following Use of Immunostimulatory Herbal Supplements
Lee, A. N., & Werth, V. P. (2004) · Archives of Dermatology · doi:10.1001/archderm.140.6.723 · Cited by 123 · see citing works
T Cells Activated by Zwitterionic Molecules Prevent Abscesses Induced by Pathogenic Bacteria
Tzianabos, A. O., Finberg, R. W., Wang, Y., Chan, M., Onderdonk, A. B., Jennings, H. J., & Kasper, D. L. (2000) · Journal of Biological Chemistry · doi:10.1074/jbc.275.10.6733 · Cited by 117 · see citing works
Balachandran, P., Pugh, N. D., Ma, G., & Pasco, D. S. (2006) · International Immunopharmacology · doi:10.1016/j.intimp.2006.08.001 · Cited by 109 · see citing works
Subchronic toxicity study in mice fed Spirulina maxima
Salazar, M., Martı́nez, E., Madrigal, É., Ruiz, L. E., & Chamorro, G. (1998) · Journal of Ethnopharmacology · doi:10.1016/s0378-8741(98)00080-4 · Cited by 107 · see citing works
Yoshizaki, K., Nakagawa, T., Fukunaga, K., Tseng, L. T., Yamamura, Y., & Kishimoto, T. (1984) · The Journal of Immunology · doi:10.4049/jimmunol.132.6.2948 · Cited by 82 · see citing works
Class Specific Influence of Dietary Spirulina platensis on Antibody Production in Mice.
Hayashi, O., Hirahashi, T., KATOH, T., MIYAJIMA, H., HIRANO, T., & Okuwaki, Y. (1998) · Journal of Nutritional Science and Vitaminology · doi:10.3177/jnsv.44.841 · Cited by 80 · see citing works
Effect of Spirulina maxima consumption on reproduction and peri- and postnatal development in rats
Salazar, M., Chamorro, G., Salazar, S., & Steele, C. (1996) · Food and Chemical Toxicology · doi:10.1016/0278-6915(96)00000-2 · Cited by 65 · see citing works
Grzanna, R., Polotsky, A., Phan, P. V., Pugh, N., Pasco, D., & Frondoza, C. G. (2006) · The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine · doi:10.1089/acm.2006.12.429 · Cited by 52 · see citing works
Romay, C., Delgado, R., Remírez, D., González, R., & Armando Rojas, R. (2011) · Arzneimittelforschung · doi:10.1055/s-0031-1300107 · Cited by 52 · see citing works
Advances in biologic therapy for ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease
D’Haens, G., & Daperno, M. (2006) · Current Gastroenterology Reports · doi:10.1007/s11894-006-0041-5 · Cited by 48 · see citing works
Anti-Interleukin-6 Receptor Antibody Therapy in Rheumatic Diseases
Nakahara, H., & Nishimoto, N. (2006) · Endocrine Metabolic & Immune Disorders - Drug Targets · doi:10.2174/187153006779025694 · Cited by 44 · see citing works
Philipp, S., Wolk, K., Kreutzer, S., Wallace, E., Ludwig, N., Roewert, J. C., Höflich, C., Volk, H., Sterry, W., & Sabat, R. (2006) · Expert Opinion on Therapeutic Targets · doi:10.1517/14728222.10.6.817 · Cited by 28 · see citing works
Drug Insight: anti-tumor-necrosis-factor therapy for ankylosing spondylitis
Henderson, C., & Davis, J. C. (2006) · Nature Clinical Practice Rheumatology · doi:10.1038/ncprheum0157 · Cited by 24 · see citing works
Winthrop, K. L. (2005) · Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases · doi:10.1136/ard.2005.042390 · Cited by 24 · see citing works
Subchronic toxicity study in rats fed Spirulina.
Ga, C., Herrera, G., Salazar, M., Salazar, S., & Ulloa, V. (1988) · PubMed · Cited by 15 · see citing works
Trofatter, K. F. (1986) · Clinical Obstetrics & Gynecology · doi:10.1097/00003081-198606000-00020 · Cited by 7 · see citing works
Short-term toxicity study of Spirulina in F3b generation rats.
Ga, C., Herrera, G., Salazar, M., Salazar, S., & Ulloa, V. (1988) · PubMed · Cited by 6 · see citing works
Flagged first, then by citations
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Finamore, A., Palmery, M., Bensehaila, S., & Peluso, I. (2017) · Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity · doi:10.1155/2017/3247528 · Cited by 256 · see citing works
Potential health benefits of spirulina microalgae*: A review of the existing literature
Capelli, B., & Cysewski, G. R. (2010) · Nutrafoods · doi:10.1007/bf03223332 · Cited by 147 · see citing works
Furmaniak, M. A., Misztak, A. E., Franczuk, M. D., Wilmotte, A., Waleron, M., & Waleron, K. F. (2017) · Frontiers in Microbiology · doi:10.3389/fmicb.2017.02541 · Cited by 121 · see citing works
‘Nutritional and healthical aspects of spirulina (Arthrospira) for poultry, animals and human.
Farag, M. R., Alagawany, M., Abd El-Hac, M. E., & Dhama, K. (2015) · International Journal of Pharmacology · doi:10.3923/ijp.2016.36.51 · Cited by 117 · see citing works
Gentscheva, G., Nikolova, K., Panayotova, V., Peycheva, K., Makedonski, L., Slavov, P., Radusheva, P., Petrova, P., & Yotkovska, I. (2023) · Life · doi:10.3390/life13030845 · Cited by 106 · see citing works
Beneficial Effects of Spirulina Consumption on Brain Health
Trotta, T., Porro, C., Cianciulli, A., & Panaro, M. A. (2022) · Nutrients · doi:10.3390/nu14030676 · Cited by 98 · see citing works
Ai, X., Yu, P., Li, X., Lai, X., Yang, M., Liu, F., Luan, F., & Meng, X. (2023) · International Journal of Biological Macromolecules · doi:10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.123211 · Cited by 91 · see citing works
A Prominent Superfood: Spirulina platensis
Seyidoglu, N., Inan, S., & Aydin, C. (2017) · Superfood and Functional Food - The Development of Superfoods and Their Roles as Medicine · doi:10.5772/66118 · Cited by 78 · see citing works
Bachstetter, A. D., Jernberg, J., Schlunk, A., Vila, J. L., Hudson, C., Cole, M. J., Shytle, R. D., Tan, J., Sanberg, P. R., Sanberg, C. D., et al. (2010) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0010496 · Cited by 71 · see citing works
Calella, P., Cerullo, G., Di Dio, M., Liguori, F., Di Onofrio, V., Gallè, F., & Liguori, G. (2022) · Frontiers in Nutrition · doi:10.3389/fnut.2022.1048258 · Cited by 69 · see citing works
Nielsen, C., Balachandran, P., Christensen, O., Pugh, N., Tamta, H., Sufka, K., Wu, X., Walsted, A., Schjørring-Thyssen, M., Enevold, C., et al. (2010) · Planta Medica · doi:10.1055/s-0030-1250043 · Cited by 56 · see citing works
Self-citationZhao, Z., Cuellar Bermudez, S., Ilyas, A., Muylaert, K., & Vankelecom, I. F. J. (2020) · Separation and Purification Technology · doi:10.1016/j.seppur.2020.117385 · Cited by 33 · see citing works
Liao, B., Zheng, J., Xia, C., Chen, X., Xu, Q., & Duan, B. (2023) · International Journal of Biological Macromolecules · doi:10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.127482 · Cited by 24 · see citing works
- Authors
- Løbner, M., Walsted, A., Larsen, R., Bendtzen, K., & Nielsen, C. H.
- Affiliations
- University of Copenhagen (DK)
- Copenhagen University Hospital (DK)
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Frederiksborg General Hospital, Hillerod, Denmark
- Rigshospitalet (DK)
- Venue
- Journal of Medicinal Food
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2008-06
- Volume
- 11
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 313-322
- ISSN
- 1096-620X (ISSN-L)
- 1557-7600
- OpenAlex
- W2078088079
- Cited by
- 66
- References
- 28
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 5 · 2015: 5 · 2014: 3 · 2013: 3 · 2012: 3
- FWCI
- 2.52
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Medicinal Food (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Research at the University of Copenhagen (University of Copenhagen) (publishedVersion)
- University of Southern Denmark Research Portal (University of Southern Denmark) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Aquatic Science › Seaweed-derived Bioactive Compounds
- Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Immunology › Immunotherapy and Immune Responses
- Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Immunology › T-cell and B-cell Immunology
- Keywords
- Spirulina platensis, adaptive immune response, B cell proliferation, Th1 cytokines, Candida albicans, tetanus toxoid, dietary supplementation, inflammatory cytokines
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Aged, Aging, Antigens, Fungal, Candida albicans, T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer, Humans, Immunity, Cellular, Interferon-gamma, Interleukin-1, Interleukin-2, Lymphocyte Activation, Male, Middle Aged, Polysaccharides, Polysaccharides, Bacterial, Tetanus Toxoid, Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha, CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes, CD4 Lymphocyte Count, Dietary Supplements, Spirulina
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
