Effects of Dietary Nucleotides on Immune Responses

Abstract

In this study, the effects of dietary nucleotides on the immune response balance between T helper cells type 1 (Th1) and type 2, and on the mucosal immune response in weanling mice were investigated. It was demonstrated that dietary nucleotides up-regulate the Th1 immune response and suppress the antigen-specific IgE antibody response in weanling mice. Thus, the results suggest that dietary nucleotides may be beneficial for the prevention of allergic diseases in early infancy. In addition, it was shown that dietary nucleotides increased the proportion of a y6T-cell receptor (TCR) -bearing intestinal intraepithelial lymphocyte (IEL) subset, IL-7 production by intestinal epithelial cells and the antigen-specific IgA response. Therefore, the present study indicates that dietary nucleotides may have an effect on the mucosal intranet in the intestinal mucosal immune system.