Nucleotides and AHCC enhance Th1 responses in vitro in "Leishmania"-stimulated-infected murine cells

Abstract

A stronger Th1 (cellular) immune response in canine leishmaniosis (CanL) leads to a better prognosis. Dietary nucleotides plus AHCC® have shown beneficial e ects in dogs with clinical leishmaniosis and in clinically healthy Leishmania-infected dogs. The potential leishmanicidal activity of nucleotides and AHCC was assessed by quantifying nitric oxide (NO) production and replication of parasites. Their e ects on lymphocyte proliferation were studied with and without soluble Leishmania infantum antigen (SLA) stimulation. Cytokine level variations were assessed using naïve and L. infantum-infected macrophages/lymphocytes cocultures. Promastigotes and amastigotes proliferation and NO macrophage production were not directly a ected. Lymphocyte proliferation was significantly enhanced by nucleotides, AHCC, and their combinations only after SLA stimulation. Nucleotides and AHCC significantly increased the production of IL-1 , IL-2, IL-5, IL-9, IL-10, and IL-12 by naïve immune cells. In naïve and L. infantum-infected macrophage/lymphocyte cocultures, nucleotides with or without AHCC led to significant increases in IFN- and TNF- . Given that these cytokines are involved in the e ective Th1 immune response against Leishmania parasites, these mechanisms of action could explain the previously reported in vivo clinical e cacy of such combination and further support the use of nucleotides with or without AHCC in the management of CanL patients.