Intake of a milk-based wolfberry formulation enhances the immune response of young-adult and aged mice

Rejuvenation Res. 2010 Feb;13(1):47-53. doi: 10.1089/rej.2009.0895.

Abstract

Aging is associated with alterations of immune responses. Wolfberry, a popular Chinese functional ingredient, is prized for its anti-aging properties; however, little is known about the immunological effect of wolfberry intake. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of dietary intake of a milk-based formulation of wolfberry, named Lacto-Wolfberry, on in vivo and ex vivo parameters of adaptive immunity in young-adult and aged mice. Over 44 days, young-adult (2 months) and aged (21 months) C57BL/6J mice were fed ad libitum with a controlled diet and received drinking water supplemented or not with 0.5% (wt/vol) Lacto-Wolfberry. All mice were immunized on day 15 and challenged on day 22 with a T cell- dependent antigen, keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH). Lacto-Wolfberry supplementation significantly increased in vivo systemic immune markers that are known to decline with aging. Indeed, both antigen-(KLH) specific humoral response and cell-mediated immune responses in young-adult and aged mice were enhanced when compared to their respective controls. No significant effect of Lacto-Wolfberry supplementation was observed on ex vivo spleen cells proliferative response to mitogens and on splenocyte T cell subsets. In conclusion, dietary intake of Lacto-Wolfberry may favorably modulate the poor responsiveness to antigenic challenge observed with aging.

MeSH terms

  • Aging / immunology*
  • Animals
  • Antigens / immunology
  • Body Weight
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Feeding Behavior*
  • Food, Formulated*
  • Hemocyanins / immunology
  • Hypersensitivity, Delayed / immunology
  • Immunity / immunology*
  • Immunity, Cellular / immunology
  • Immunity, Humoral / immunology
  • Lycium / immunology*
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Milk / immunology*
  • Spleen / cytology
  • Spleen / immunology

Substances

  • Antigens
  • Hemocyanins
  • keyhole-limpet hemocyanin