Skip to main content
ARS Home » Southeast Area » Little Rock, Arkansas » Microbiome and Metabolism Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #269677
Title: Soy protein diet inhibits zymosan induced monocyte migration

Author
item NAGARAJAN, SHANMUGAM - Arkansas Children'S Nutrition Research Center (ACNC)
item JORDAN, JESSICA - Arkansas Children'S Nutrition Research Center (ACNC)
item BURRIS, RAMONA - Arkansas Children'S Nutrition Research Center (ACNC)
item WARDEN, JESSICA - Arkansas Children'S Nutrition Research Center (ACNC)

Submitted to: Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology Conference
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/4/2011
Publication Date: 3/17/2011
Citation: Nagarajan, S., Jordan, J., Burris, R., Warden, J. 2011. Soy protein diet inhibits zymosan induced monocyte migration [abstract]. Federation of American Societies for Experinmental Boiology Journal. 25(3):595.22.

Interpretive Summary: Inflammation is a common link to chronic diseases. Studies indicated atherosclerosis is an inflammatory disease. In this study we addressed whether soy diet can prevent inflammation. We showed soy diet feeding inhibited immune cell migration in response to inflammatory signal in animals. Proteins known as chemokines control immune cell migration. We showed soy diet inhibits the secretion of chemokines. These findings suggest that soy diet prevent atherosclerosis by inhibiting inflammation.

Technical Abstract: Atherosclerosis has been recognized as a chronic inflammatory disease. Recently, we showed reduced atherosclerotic lesions in a hyperlipidemic mouse model fed isoflavone-free soy protein diet (SPI) compared to casein (CAS)-fed mice, despite unchanged serum lipid levels. However, the molecular mechanisms contributing to the atheroprotective effect of soy-based diets are not clear. We hypothesize that soy protein/peptides (SPI) exert their protective effect by inhibiting monocyte migration. To address this hypothesis, a zymosan-induced acute peritonitis inflammation model in apoE knockout mouse was developed. Dose response studies showed zymosan at 100 micro g/mouse is sufficient to induce inflammatory cell migration including neutrophils and monocytes. ELISA analyses showed levels of MCP-1, IP-10, IL-6, and TNF-alpha were high in peritoneal exudates in zymosan-injected mice. Further, quantitative RT-PCR analyses showed expression of inflammatory cytokine (TNF-alpha, IL-6) and chemokines (MCP-1, Gro, MCP-1 and IP-10) were upregulated in peritoneal exudates cells in zymosan-injected mice. Interestingly, dietary SPI inhibited zymosan-induced recruitment of inflammatory cells and chemokines and cytokine expression. These findings suggest that the atheroprotective effect of isoflavone free soy diet is mediated, in part, by blocking inflammatory cell migration associated with atherosclerosis.