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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Boston, Massachusetts » Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #235244
Title: Effect of dietary supplementation with a formulated nutrient mixture together with whey-based protein on immune response of young and old mice

Author
item Wu, Dayong
item ONWULATA, CHARLES - EASTRN REGIONAL RES CENTR
item REN, ZHIHONG - JM USDA HNRCA @ TUFTS
item PAE, MUNKYONG - JM USDA HNRCA @ TUFTS
item PANG, HOAN-JEN - JM USDA HNRCA @ TUFTS
item Meydani, Simin

Submitted to: Journal of Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/15/2008
Publication Date: 4/22/2009
Citation: Wu, D., Onwulata, C., Ren, Z., Pae, M., Pang, H., Meydani, S. 2009. Effect of dietary supplementation with a formulated nutrient mixture together with whey-based protein on immune response of young and old mice. Journal of Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology. 23:909.7.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Aging is associated with dysregulation of the immune response. Nutrient supplementation has been shown to help maintain a healthy immune system during aging. In this study we fed young (4-5 mo) and old (23-24 mo) C57BL/6 mice, a diet supplemented with a formulated nutrient mixture and whey proteins modified by extrusion texturization for enhanced physical functionality (NTWP) for 5 wk. Composition of cell types in spleen cells was not significantly affected by NTWP supplementation. Lymphocyte proliferation in response to T cell mitogen Con A or PHA, or anti-CD3/CD28 was significantly lower in old mice compared to young mice. Supplementation with NTWP enhanced lymphocyte proliferation in both young and old mice. Splenocytes from old mice produced less IL-2, more IFN-gamma and IL-4, and similar amount of IL-10 compared to those from young mice. Supplementation with NTWP did not significantly affect production of these cytokines, indicating that other factors contributed to NTWP-induced enhancement of proliferation. Production of inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and TNF-alpha, and T cell suppressive factor prostaglandin E2 tended to be higher in the splenocytes from old than those from young mice fed the control diet. While supplementation with NTWP had no effect on production of these molecules in the splenocytes from young mice, it tended to inhibit their production by those from old mice. These results indicate that consumption of the formulated nutrient mixture together with the whey-based protein may favorably modulate immune response. Supported by USDA CRIS Projects #58-1950-7-707 and #1935-41000-065.