Abstract
The immune system comprises a complex group of processes that provide defense against diverse pathogens. These defenses can be divided into innate and adaptive immunity, in which specific immune components converge to limit infections. In addition to genetic factors, aging, lifestyle, and environmental factors can influence immune function, potentially affecting the susceptibility of the host to disease-causing agents. Chemical compounds in certain foods have been shown to regulate signal transduction and cell phenotypes, ultimately impacting pathophysiology. Research has shown that the consumption of specific functional foods can stimulate the activity of immune cells, providing protection against cancer, viruses, and bacteria. Here, we review a number of functional foods reported to strengthen immunity, including ginseng, mushrooms, chlorella, and probiotics (Lactobacillus plantarum). We also discuss the molecular mechanisms involved in regulating the activity of various types of immune cells. Identifying immune-enhancing functional foods and understanding their mechanisms of action will support new approaches to maintain proper health and combat immunological diseases.
Similar content being viewed by others
Introduction
The immune system is a network composed of various structures and biological processes that defend the host against pathogens. Impairment of the immune system affects the susceptibility of the host to foreign pathogens and may lead to diseases such as cancer and viral infections1. A study reported that the response to vaccines is significantly reduced in elderly individuals, as immune function declines with age2. On the other hand, immune enhancement positively correlates with lower cancer incidence. According to a cohort study, individuals with higher lymphocyte cytotoxic activity had a reduced risk of cancer3. With the increase in life expectancy, concerns about the age-mediated weakening of immune functions are considered an important social health issue4. In addition, lifestyles, dietary patterns, and environmental hazards can also affect immunity, further emphasizing the importance of maintaining a healthy immune system5,6,7. Certain foods have been shown to have immunostimulatory effects, providing protection against microbial pathogens and cancer progression8. In this review, we discuss functional foods reported to improve immunity as well as their molecular mechanisms of action.
The immune system
Innate immunity
The immune system can be grouped into two categories: innate immunity and adaptive immunity. The innate defense system is an immediate nonspecific response mediated by various types of immune cells, including macrophages, natural killer (NK) cells, and dendritic cells (DCs)9. Macrophages are essential cells of the innate immune system that can remove pathogens through phagocytosis and subsequently recruit other immune cells to fight against invaders10. Additionally, activated macrophages secrete cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, which acts as a meditator for activating/recruiting NK cells, neutrophils, and eosinophils11,12. In addition to cytokine secretion, nitric oxide (NO) production by inducible NO synthase (iNOS) is a method that macrophages use to destroy foreign microbial agents13. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are pattern recognition receptors that play an important role in the regulation of the immune system by macrophages. Activation of TLR2, which in turn induces mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways, and nuclear factor κ-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) has been known to be a major mechanism controlling the immune response in macrophages14,15,16. NK cells play a pivotal role in surveillance and defense against virus infection and malignant cells. NK cells secrete interferon (IFN)-γ as a signal to activate macrophages for phagocytosis, further augmenting the immune response17. DCs originate from hematopoietic bone marrow progenitor cells. DCs are professional antigen-presenting cells that link the innate and adaptive immune systems by processing antigens and presenting them to T lymphocytes18. Overall, these dedicated immune cells are involved in the first line of defense against external microbes as a part of the innate immune system, with a role in identifying nonself elements and generating cytotoxic effects.
Adaptive immunity
Adaptive immunity is an antigen-specific defense system characterized by the activity of B and T cells. The adaptive immune response takes much longer than the innate immune response but is more specific to the pathogen and uses immunological memory to enhance the response when re-exposed in the future. B cells produce unique antibodies in response to antigens of invading pathogens. The binding of antibodies to specific antigens can neutralize the pathogen directly and/or activate macrophages to phagocytose foreign entities. These antibodies also promote the formation of the complement system on the microbe’s membrane to initiate destruction19.
Cytotoxic T cells directly kill host cells that harbor foreign molecules, while helper T (TH) cells enhance the immune response by controlling the activity of other immune cells, such as B cells and cytotoxic T cells. Proper differentiation of naive T cells into specific types of T cells after exposure to viral or bacterial antigens is crucial for fine-tuning the immune response against antigenic challenge20. Cytotoxic T cells induce cell death of victim cells by cell-mediated destruction, which requires direct physical contact. Cytotoxic T cells release granzymes and perforins, which disrupt membrane integrity and trigger apoptosis of the target cell. Additionally, the Fas ligand (FasL) expressed on the surface of cytotoxic T cells binds to the Fas receptor of the target cell, causing apoptosis of the target cell via the caspase cascade21. TH cells communicate with both B cells and T cells. TH cells are divided into several subsets, of which TH 1 cells play an important role in regulating cell-mediated responses related to cytotoxic T cells and macrophages22. TH 1 cells produce TNF-α, IL-12, IL-2, or IFN-γ to induce cellular immunity and are related to defense against intracellular microbes. TH 2 cells participate in protection against parasites and produce IL-4, IL-5, and IL-10 to orchestrate immune responses, such as the control of B cells23. TH 17 cells defend against pathogens by secreting IL-6, IL-17, or IL-22 and are involved in host defense against bacteria and fungi24,25.
Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer (Ginseng)
Ginseng is one of the most well-known medicinal foods and has been studied for its immunostimulatory effects26. Ginseng has been widely consumed in two major forms: white ginseng and red ginseng. White ginseng is produced by dehydration of ginseng, while red ginseng is produced by steaming and drying raw ginseng multiple times27,28. Ginseng roots as a whole, as well as their constituents, have been studied as immunostimulants (Table 1).
White ginseng
White ginseng is reported to contain various immunomodulating components, including ginsenosides and polysaccharides29,30. The innate immunostimulatory effects of white ginseng extracts and their constituents have been extensively studied, focusing on macrophages, DCs, and NK cells. Treatment with white ginseng extract increased the phagocytic activity of RAW 264.7 murine macrophages and dose-dependently upregulated iNOS expression and NO production31,32,33. White ginseng extracts also enhanced the expression of proinflammatory cytokines, including IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α, in RAW264.7 cells33,34. In addition to cytokine secretion, Lim et al.31 demonstrated that white ginseng extract stimulated the recruitment of immune cells to the site of infection and increased the expression of the proinflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-1α, and IL-23 in RAW 264.7 macrophage cells through the activation of the MAPK kinase (MKK)4-c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK)-c-Jun signaling pathway. The phosphorylated levels of JNK1, JNK2, and ERK2 were found to increase upon administration of white ginseng extracts31. Pretreatment with JNK inhibitors in white ginseng extract-activated RAW264.7 cells significantly reduced the production of immunomodulators such as NO, IL-6, and TNF-α31. This result confirms that the immunomodulatory effects of white ginseng extracts are dependent on the activation of the MAPK/JNK pathway. Previous studies reported that MAPK, NF-κB, and PI3K/AKT signaling are dependent on TLR2/4-mediated immune responses35,36. Um et al.33 revealed that treatment with white ginseng extract in RAW 264.7 cells enhanced macrophage phagocytosis through TLR2/4-dependent activation of the MAPK, NF-κB, and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways. Um et al.33 further demonstrated that white ginseng extract-induced activation of NF-κB and PI3K/AKT signaling was primarily dependent on TLR4. In addition, administration of white ginseng oligopeptides to BALB/c mice enhanced the innate immune response, demonstrated by enhancement of the phagocytic capacity of macrophages and NK cell activity37.
White ginseng extracts promoted the maturation of DCs and upregulated the production of the proinflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-12 in human-derived peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs)38. Ginsan is an acidic polysaccharide isolated from white ginseng that has been studied for its immunomodulatory effects39,40,41. Cytokine-mediated major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II expression and the costimulatory molecule CD86 are essential for upregulating T cell activation and maturation of DCs42. Ginsan was shown to induce the expression of CD86 and MHC class II markers in bone marrow-derived DCs (BMDCs) from mice and DCs derived from human monocytes in vitro39,42. Kim et al.39 demonstrated that ginsan induced the expression of the proinflammatory cytokines IL-12 and TNF-α and stimulated the proliferation of BMDCs harvested from C57BL/6 mice. Furthermore, ginsan-treated DCs induced the proliferation of allogeneic CD4+ T cells that markedly increased the production of both IFN-γ and IL-439. These results suggest that ginsan may activate the costimulatory signal in DC-T lymphocyte interactions.
White ginseng extracts have also been reported to regulate NK cell activity. In vivo mouse studies revealed that treatment with white ginseng extracts induced the proliferation and cytotoxic activity of NK cells. With the enhanced activity of NK cells, the production of NK cell-secreted cytokines and IFN-γ expression were also increased31,43. The oral administration of white ginseng extracts enhanced the cytotoxic activity of NK cells isolated from wild-type B6 mice and BALB/c mice but not from IFN-γ knockout B6 mice, suggesting the involvement of IFN-γ in white ginseng’s immunostimulatory effects44. A randomized, double-blind clinical study on twenty healthy volunteers conducted by Scaglione et al.45 revealed that 8 weeks of ginseng extract consumption significantly increased NK cell activity compared to that of placebo-treated individuals. This study implies that the immunostimulatory effects of ginseng extracts may also be reproduced in humans. Treatment with the ginsenoside Rg1 stimulated the cytolytic activity of NK cells isolated from mice and augmented IL-1 production by macrophages46. Another mouse study also confirmed that Rg1 treatment enhanced the cytolytic activity of NK cells and restored the impairment of the immune response by cyclophosphamide treatment, suggesting that certain ginsenosides are at least partially responsible for the NK cell-activating effect of white ginseng46,47.
The immunomodulatory activity of white ginseng appears to also impact the adaptive immune system. In a mouse study, the oral administration of white ginseng extracts significantly increased the level of IgA in the spleen and serum48. Similarly, the administration of white ginseng extracts to mice for three consecutive days upregulated IgM and IgG production compared to that of the control group49. In addition, studies have shown the stimulatory effects of ginseng components on the production of antibodies against bacterial antigens. The effect of the ginsenoside Rg1 on antibody production was evaluated using Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) recombinant surface antigen 1 (rSAG1)50. Subcutaneous injection of Rg1 upregulated splenocyte proliferation and significantly enhanced the secretion of T. gondii-specific IgG antibodies50. When ginsan was administered to BALB/c mice immunized with Salmonella, the ginsan-treated mice secreted significantly greater amounts of serum IgG1, IgG2, and IgA against Salmonella than the control mice51. Studies have also demonstrated the immunostimulatory effects of white ginseng against viral infections. Su et al.52 studied the effects of the ginsenoside Re on the immune response against rabies virus (RV)-immunized BALB/c mice52. Treatment with Re significantly induced serum rabies-specific antibody production and enhanced CD4+ and CD8+ T cell expression. Compared to control BALB/c mice, readministered mice also displayed increased levels of the proinflammatory cytokines IL-4, IL-10, IL-12, and IFN-γ52.
Research has shown the involvement of white ginseng in controlling T cell activity. White ginseng extracts, polysaccharides, and ginsenosides were found to regulate TH 1 and TH 2 immune responses. White ginseng extracts induced a TH 1-specific immune response, as demonstrated by enhanced proinflammatory IFN-γ and IL-12 cytokine production in human PBMCs38. Similarly, Lim et al.31 reported that white ginseng extract induced the expression of TH 1 cytokines, TNF-α, IL-1α, and IL-23 and increased the phosphorylation of JNK1 and JNK2 in murine macrophage cells.
The TH 1 axis-stimulating effect of white ginseng was further supported through a mouse model study. The administration of ginsan to BALB/c mice enhanced the proliferation and activity of T lymphocytes53. Treatment with ginsan also induced the production of IL-1, IL-6, IL-12, and IFN-γ53. Ginsenoside Rg1-treated BALB/c mice had enhanced TH 2 immune activity, as demonstrated by increased CD4 + T lymphocyte counts and differentiation into TH 2 cells54. In this study, Rg1 induced the mRNA expression of the TH 2-specific IL-4 cytokine in CD4+ T cells while reducing the secretion of the TH 1 cytokine IFN-γ54. Lee et al.54 reported that Rg1 stimulated the activity of CD4+ T cells and promoted differentiation into TH 2 cells more than TH 1 cells. In contrast to the promotion of TH 1-specific immune responses in PBMCs by white ginseng extract38, the treatment of PBMCs with ginsenoside Rc and Rd compounds increased the differentiation and proliferation of TH 2 cells more than those of TH 1 cells55. The discrepancies between the effect of white ginseng extracts and single ginsenosides in mediating either a TH 1 or TH 2 immune response demonstrate that there is a complex interplay of constituents in white ginseng extracts and suggest that a more thorough study on individual components may be needed.
The contribution of white ginseng to controlling helper T cell responses has been translated into a protective effect against bacterial and viral infections. Pseudomonas aeruginosa-infected mice and live Candida albicans (C. albicans)-infected mice were treated with white ginseng extracts and ginsenoside Rg1, respectively43,56. Treatment with white ginseng extracts and Rg1 induced TH 1 cell proliferation and the production of TH 1-specific proinflammatory cytokines, including IFN-γ, IL-2, and TNF-α43,56. Pretreatment with Rg1 enhanced the protection of mice against C. albicans, as determined by the reduced number of colony-forming units (CFU) and prolonged survival of mice compared to those of the control mice56. Lee et al.56 also examined the relationship between increased TH 1-specific IFN-γ production and enhanced protection against C. albicans. Anti-mouse IFN-γ antibody administered to Rg1-treated mice abrogated the protective effect of Rg1 against C. albicans, which reveals that the immunostimulatory effects of Rg1 are dependent on IFN-γ56. Additionally, the potential adjuvant role of white ginseng against porcine parvovirus (PPV), a virus causing reproductive failure in swine, was also studied57. The coadministration of the ginsenoside Rb1 with the PPV vaccine significantly stimulated IL-4 and IL-10 proinflammatory cytokine secretion in vaccinated mice57. White ginseng stem-leaf saponin extract, in combination with selenium (Se), was reported to significantly improve immune responses upon vaccination against pseudorabies virus (aPrV), a contagious herpesvirus in swine58. In this study, Wang et al.58 revealed that the adjuvant effect of this extract and immune response enhancement were dependent on the JAK-STAT pathway. Cotreatment with the extract and Se upregulated the production of both TH 1-specific IgG2a and the cytokines IL-2, TNF-α, and IFN-γ as well as the TH 2 response cytokines IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, and IL-10 and IgG158,59,60. This study showed that the administration of white ginseng saponin extract may enhance both TH 1 and TH 2 immune responses59,61. The immunostimulatory and adjuvant effects of white ginseng demonstrated in these studies support the potential applications of white ginseng as a functional food.
Red ginseng
The immunomodulatory effect of red ginseng has been primarily studied with respect to the innate immune system. In mice fed red ginseng, the size of the spleen and thymus and the number of white blood cells, including macrophages and NK cells, were increased62. In addition, red ginseng extract treatment of H1N1 virus-infected mice increased the expression of NKp46 on NK cells and upregulated IFN-γ production63. As a result of boosted NK cell activity, red ginseng was able to increase the survival rate of virus-infected mice. Research has shown that red ginseng can also activate macrophages. One study described that acidic polysaccharides from red ginseng increased NO production and the mRNA levels of iNOS in RAW264.7 macrophages through the regulation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and the JNK, AP-1, and NF-κB pathways64. Red ginseng acidic polysaccharides were also reported to induce the production of cytokines such as IL-1 and IL-6 in macrophages64. However, treatment with a combination of red ginseng acidic polysaccharide and IFN-γ significantly increased the production of IL-1 and IL-6 as well as TNF-α through the activation of NF-κB64. Therefore, the consumption of red ginseng may enhance innate immunity by controlling the activity of NK cells and macrophages.
Red ginseng extracts have also been reported to inhibit bacterial and viral infections by stimulating the adaptive immune response. The effects of red ginseng on the infection of influenza viruses, including influenza virus A/PR8, H1N1 virus, and H9N2 virus, were investigated63,65,66,67. The administration of red ginseng extract to mice infected with influenza A/PR8 significantly increased the production of serum IgA and all IgG subtypes65. Treatment of human PBMCs with red ginseng extracts upregulated the expression of CD25 and CD69, which are responsible for the proliferation of CD3+ T cells63. In the same study, the administration of red ginseng extracts to H1N1 virus-infected mice ameliorated H1N1 virus-induced lytic gene expression and viral plaque accumulation and increased the survival rate of mice63. Yoo et al.68 reported that oral administration of red ginseng extracts had antiviral effects against H1N1 and H3N2 influenza virus in mice68. Oral administration of red ginseng extracts was found to enhance cross-protection against antigenically distinct H1N1 and H3N2 influenza viruses. Treatment of H1N1 virus-infected mice with red ginseng extract resulted in a significant reduction in lung viral titers and increased expression of the antiviral cytokine IFN-γ compared to those of the untreated mice68.
The potential adjuvant properties of red ginseng ginsenosides on cellular and humoral immune responses in ovalbumin (OVA)-immunized mouse models have been studied69,70,71,72. The red ginseng ginsenosides Rg1, Rd, and Re induced TH 1 and TH 2 lymphocyte proliferation and enhanced OVA-specific IgG antibody production against OVA in ICR and BALB/c mice69,70,71,72. Rg1, Rd, and Re significantly induced the expression of IL-4, IL-10, IFN-γ, IL-5, and IL-2, as well as the production of IgG1 and IgG2a69,70,71,72. Su et al.71 studied the molecular mechanisms involved in the adjuvant effects of Rg1 and Re using OVA-immunized C3H/HeB mice and TLR-4 defective C3H/HeJ mice. Both Rg1 and Re stimulated the activation of NF-κB and the expression of proinflammatory cytokines73 in C3H/HeB mice but not in TLR-4 knockout C3H/HeJ mice71. This result suggests that TH 1/TH 2 immune enhancement and adjuvant effects of red ginseng ginsenosides are dependent on the TLR-4 signaling pathway71. The immunostimulatory and adjuvant properties of red ginseng against viral and bacterial infections demonstrate the potential applications of red ginseng as a functional food to improve the host immune response. In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial on 100 healthy subjects, the red ginseng intake group had significantly increased T cell and B cell counts compared to those of the placebo group at week 874. Secondary efficacy evaluation measured by vital signs and hematological tests confirmed that the administration of red ginseng extracts did not cause any adverse responses74. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial was performed on 100 healthy subjects for 12 weeks to investigate the effects of red ginseng extract on acute respiratory illness (ARI), a self-limiting viral disease caused by viruses including rhinovirus and coronavirus75. This study reported that the red ginseng-treated group had a lower ARI frequency rate, lower symptom score, and shorter symptom duration than the placebo group over the 12-week study75. These clinical studies support the hypothesis that the consumption of red ginseng may improve immunity in healthy human subjects and promotes the potential applications of red ginseng extracts for use as a complementary treatment of influenza A virus74,75.
Mushrooms
The mushroom is a fruiting body of a fungus, which is produced by more than 1000 different species. Mushrooms have been widely consumed worldwide as a food ingredient, and various bioactivities of mushrooms have been reported76 (Table 2).
Agaricus blazei (A. blazei)
A. blazei is known for its immunostimulatory properties, which include the enhancement of cytokine production and induction of immune cell proliferation. A study showed that the stimulation of immune responses may have generated antitumor effects in mice. Spleen cells from A. blazei-treated tumor-bearing mice showed increased IFN-γ production and IFN-γ-inducible protein (IP-10) mRNA expression compared to those of spleen cells from the control mice. In addition, mice treated with A. blazei extracts showed decreased tumor size and weight and increased expression of CD69, which is an activation marker of infiltrating T cells in tumors77. These results could imply that A. blazei extracts may activate immune cells to promote tumor rejection. In addition, administration of A. blazei extracts increased NK cell activity in a Meth A-bearing mouse model78 in a dose-dependent manner and promoted the phagocytic activity of macrophages in a murine leukemia BALB/c mouse model79. These changes in immune cell activity were accompanied by a decrease in tumor size and weight78. In addition to its effect on tumors, the potential therapeutic implication of A. blazei against cerebral malaria (CM) was examined80. CM is caused by Plasmodium berghei, which induces lipid peroxidation through the release of ROS. The administration of A. blazei for three days significantly reduced ROS activity, inhibited lipid peroxidation, and ameliorated parasite infection severity in mice80. A. blazei-treated mice also had reduced cytokine production compared to that of untreated mice. Mice treated with A. blazei exhibited increased parasitemia levels, elevated survival rates and reduced weight loss, which led to preventive effects on CM development80.
Ganoderma lucidum (G. lucidum, reishi)
G. lucidum has shown immunostimulatory effects that might be translated into cancer therapeutic activity. A study examining the effect of G. lucidum on macrophages in vitro confirmed that TNF-α and IL-6 secretion was significantly stimulated in a dose-dependent manner compared with that in untreated control macrophages81. In this study, the researchers identified that the effect of G. lucidum on macrophages occurred through the upregulation of MAPK signaling pathways, including ERK1/2, p38, and JNK, in murine resident peritoneal macrophages. When tumor-bearing mice were treated with G. lucidum, there was an increase in the concentration of IFN-γ and IL-2 in the blood as well as in the cytotoxicity of NK cells82. This study showed upregulation of NF-κB expression in the spleen of mice treated with G. lucidum, suggesting that the immunomodulatory function of G. lucidum occurs be through the activation of the NF-κB signaling pathway82. In addition, proliferation of spleen lymphocytes was promoted, and NK cell activity and macrophage phagocytic activity were augmented83. In a clinical study, patients with advanced lung, colon, or breast cancers treated with G. lucidum for 12 weeks showed increased levels of IL‐2, IL‐6, and IFN‐γ in their plasma and an increased number of CD56+ cells. Additionally, G. lucidum treatment induced a significant increase in the mean NK cell activity compared with the baseline (34.5% ± 11.8% vs. 26.6% ± 8.3%) in advanced‐stage cancer patients84. In summary, G. lucidum treatment induces changes in cytokine production and immune cell activity, which could contribute to suppressing tumor growth in vivo.
Grifola frondosa (maitake D)
A polysaccharide designated the maitake D fraction, extracted from Grifola frondosa has been reported to exert antitumor effects by activating macrophages and T cells and increasing the expression of TH 1 cytokines while simultaneously suppressing the production of the TH 2 cytokine IL-485. As TH 2 activation decreases TH 1 levels, by suppressing TH 2 responses, G. frondosa establishes a TH 1-dominant phenotype86. When G. frondosa was administered to mice, the expression of IFN-γ and IL-12 in antigen-presenting cells (APCs) was increased, and the activities of NK cells and macrophages were augmented87,88,89. Orally administered G. frondosa fraction inhibited tumor growth in various models while stimulating immune responses. It has been revealed that the G. frondosa fraction increases the number of IFN-γ-expressing CD4+ and CD8+ T cells88 and IL-12 p70 production through the regulation of dectin-1 in DCs in colon cancer models90. Intraperitoneal administration of the maitake D fraction 2 days before tumor implantation significantly inhibited lung metastasis. Moreover, the G. frondosa fraction increased the production of IL-12 in APCs and the cytotoxicity of NK cells91. The maitake D fraction directly stimulated DC maturation through a C-type lectin receptor dectin-1 pathway. Oral administration of the maitake D fraction was reported to increase systemic tumor antigen-specific T cell responses and T cell infiltration into tumor sites. Oral intake of the maitake D fraction also reduced the number of regulatory T cells and myeloid-derived suppressor cells90. In a clinical study (a phase II study examining the effects of G. frondosa on myelodysplastic syndromes, MDSs), G. frondosa β-glucan consumption improved neutrophil and monocyte function in lower-risk MDS patients. Moreover, treatment with G. frondosa extract increased the ROS response to Escherichia coli (E. coli) ex vivo, indicating that G. frondosa might enhance the immune response to bacterial infections in MDS patients. Similarly, in a G. frondosa phase I/II trial of breast cancer patients, the intermediate dose (5–7 mg/kg/day) was associated with increased TNF-α and IFN-γ production by T cells92.
Mushrooms are known to exert immunomodulatory and antitumor effects through the activation of immune cells. Studies have been conducted to examine cytokine production, cell activation, and effects on tumors upon treatment with A. blazei, G. lucidum, and G. frondosa. In most studies of these mushrooms, the production of IFN-γ, along with that of IL-1, IL-6, IL-8, IL-12, and TNF-α, was increased after treatment. The polysaccharide fraction, mainly β-glucans, is the component that is known to be responsible for the immunomodulatory effects exerted by mushrooms, and its effect appears to depend on the structural characteristics of β-glucans93. The receptors of these β-glucans include dectin-1, TLR, and CR3 (also known as CD11b/CD18)94,95,96. Dectin-1 and TLR, which are expressed on macrophages, bind to β-glucans, which are pathogen-associated molecular patterns, thereby inducing macrophage activation and promoting the production of inflammatory cytokines. In addition, β-glucans induce the functional maturation of DCs and the production of IL-12 and IFN-γ, indirectly promoting the activation of T cells. β-glucans also bind to CR3, which is highly expressed on neutrophils, monocytes, and NK cells, and prime these cells to bind to inactivated complement 3b (iC3b), which directs β-glucan-activated cells to induce the lysis of iC3b-coated cells94,96. Most studies investigating the immunomodulatory effects of mushrooms have been conducted using mushroom extracts. Therefore, studies using highly purified β-glucans could benefit from understanding a more precise mechanism by which β-glucan and mushrooms affect immunity.
Bacillus subtilis chungkookjang (poly-γ-glutamate, γ-PGA)
Bacillus subtilis subsp. chungkookjang is found in chungkookjang, a traditional Korean fermented soybean food. Bacillus subtilis subsp. chungkookjang naturally produces an edible biomaterial called poly-γ-glutamate (γ-PGA), which is a polymer with a γ-amide bond between D- or L-glutamate with a molecular weight of 1000 kDa or more97. The immunomodulatory functions of γ-PGA and its potential use as a drug or dietary supplement have been studied in cancer and virus infection models (Table 2). γ-PGA induced the expression of proinflammatory cytokines, including IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6, and NLRP3, through its interaction with TLR4 in BMDMs98. The treatment of γ-PGA stimulated the production of IFN-γ in NK cells and enhanced NK cell cytotoxicity in a melanoma mouse model99. Treatment with high-molecular-mass (2000 kDa) γ-PGA led to an increase in the number of NK cells, with a concomitant reduction in tumor size, in a lung cancer model99. Additionally, TNF-α, IFN-γ, and IL-12 secretion from activated NK DCs were induced by γ-PGA100. Moreover, a study demonstrated the crucial involvement of TLR4 in γ-PGA-mediated antitumor immunity using MyD88 knockout and TLR4-defective mice101. In this study, Lee et al. reported that the stimulatory potency toward macrophages and immature DCs as well as the antitumor effect of γ-PGA was lost when TLR4 signaling was genetically blocked, revealing an important functional target of γ-PGA. In a multicenter, randomized, double-blind clinical trial of 195 patients with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) 1, 42.4% of the patients who received oral administration of γ-PGA showed histological remission of CIN 1, compared to 27.1% of the control subjects102. High-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) clearance was observed in 43.5% of the patients receiving γ-PGA, whereas 26.7% clearance was found in the control subjects102. However, while there was a mild increase in NK cell activity induced by γ-PGA administration at week 8, the activity was not higher at week 12102. On the other hand, in a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical study with healthy volunteers, oral administration of γ-PGA for 8 weeks caused higher NK cell cytotoxicity compared to that of the placebo group when examined at the end of the study103. The discrepancy in NK cell activity between the two human studies implies that the effect of γ-PGA may not be sustained for a long time after cessation of consumption because the γ-PGA administration period was 4 weeks shorter in the CIN 1 patient study than in the study conducted with healthy volunteers. In another study focusing on the anti-infection effect, intranasal γ-PGA administration protected against H1N1 influenza A virus in vivo by inhibiting viral infection, which in turn led to an increase in the survival rate of infected mice104. Moreover, influenza-specific cytotoxic T cell activity increased upon γ-PGA treatment101,104.
Chlorella
Chlorella is a unicellular green algae widely used as a functional food and nutraceutical due to its rich content in proteins, dietary fibers, vitamins, minerals, and other bioactive compounds105. Chlorella vulgaris and Chlorella pyrenoidosa are the most studied species among the chlorella for use as dietary supplements106.
Chlorella vulgaris (C. vulgaris)
C. vulgaris has been reported to enhance immunity in animal models as well as human studies and may improve defense against microbial infections (Table 3). In a cyclophosphamide-mediated immunosuppression mouse experiment, dried C. vulgaris rescued the cyclophosphamide-induced downregulation of IL-2, TNF-α, IFN-γ, and IL-12 expression. More importantly, C. vulgaris treatment was able to increase the cytotoxic activity of NK cells in cyclophosphamide-treated mice. In addition, the proliferation of lymphocytes and phagocytic activity of macrophages was also increased by C. vulgaris107. In vitro examination revealed an increase in IFN-γ and IL-2 levels in MOLT-4 cells108. In an 8-week randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study, treatment of healthy participants with dried C. vulgaris extract tablets resulted in higher NK cell activity than that in the placebo-treated subjects. Additionally, serum cytokine concentrations, especially those of IFN-γ and IL-1β, were significantly increased in the participants who received chlorella supplementation, suggesting a potential immunostimulatory effect in healthy individuals109. When chlorella was fed to chickens as a supplement, the concentrations of plasma IgG and IgM increased compared to those in the group without supplementation110. Interestingly, the number of lymphocytes and white blood cells increased in broiler chickens treated with 1% fresh liquid chlorella but not in those treated with 1% dried chlorella powder111. This finding implies that while chlorella might provide immunomodulatory effects in vivo, the type of supplement may be important in determining bioactivity.
C. vulgaris has been reported to enhance antibacterial immunity against several types of bacterial infections. C. vulgaris water extract lowered the number of bacteria in the peritoneal cavity or spleen of mice after Listeria monocytogenes (L. monocytogenes) infection, which appeared to occur through augmentation of the T cell-mediated immune response112. Further studies demonstrated that the resistance to L. monocytogenes conveyed by C. vulgaris involved the activation of the TH 1 response driven by IFN-γ and IL-12113,114. C. vulgaris also augmented resistance against intraperitoneal E. coli infection in rats. Oral administration of C. vulgaris decreased the viable number of bacteria in the blood, spleen, and liver while increasing the activity of polymorphonuclear leukocytes112. Treatment with C. vulgaris extracts also improved antitumor activity in mice by inducing the production of IL-12 p40. To investigate which biological pathway mediates the antitumor activity of C. vulgaris, spleen-adherent cells derived from TLR4-lacking C3H/HeJ mice and TLR2 knockout mice were separately treated with C. vulgaris extract. IL-12 p40 cytokine production was significantly impaired in C. vulgaris-stimulated spleen-adherent cells isolated from TLR2 knockout mice compared to that in corresponding cells from WT mice. This study suggests that the immunomodulatory effects of C. vulgaris are dependent on TLR2 signaling115. These recent findings reveal the potential of C. vulgaris as a potent immunostimulatory agent. Further research on the biological pathways involved in the immunomodulatory effects of C. vulgaris would provide a better understanding and encourage the potential uses of C. vulgaris to improve the immune system.
Chlorella pyrenoidosa (C. pyrenoidosa)
Immunomodulatory activities of C. pyrenoidosa have been found mainly in macrophages and humoral immune responses (Table 3). The effect on macrophage activation was measured based on phagocytic activity and intracellular NO generation in murine macrophage cell lines. The phagocytic activity of macrophages was elevated by hot water extracts of C. pyrenoidosa. These extracts also enhanced macrophage proliferation and NO generation116. Treatment with hot-water-soluble polysaccharides of C. pyrenoidosa induced the expression of human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DA and HLA-DC in human blood monocyte-derived macrophages117. The expression of the proinflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-1β and the production of the costimulatory molecules CD80 and CD86 were found to be upregulated by C. pyrenoidosa117. In this study, Hsu et al.117 suggested that the immunostimulatory effects of C. pyrenoidosa were mediated by the TLR4-mediated signaling pathway. In a similar study, the polysaccharide fraction of C. pyrenoidosa was also found to increase the expression of TNF-α and IL-1β mRNA and cause NF-κB activation in THP-1 cells118. These findings encourage further research on the potential use of C. pyrenoidosa as an agent to improve immune responses.
The immune-enhancing function of C. pyrenoidosa supplements was examined in a clinical experiment on healthy subjects above 50 years of age who have treated with an influenza A vaccine. No meaningful results were obtained, but subjects aged 50–55 years exhibited increased anti-influenza A antibody production119. When C. pyrenoidosa tablets were administered to pregnant women, concentrations of IgA significantly increased in breast milk compared to those in the control group. This finding implies that C. pyrenoidosa supplementation during pregnancy could reduce the probability of infection in nursing infants by increasing IgA levels in breast milk120. In addition, oral administration of C. pyrenoidosa powder to rats enhanced the production of IgM in spleen and mesenteric lymph node lymphocytes and increased serum concentrations of IgM and IgG121.
Lactobacillus plantarum (L. plantarum)
Probiotics are widely used as health-promoting food ingredients due to their various bioactivities122. Recent studies have shown that not only live probiotics but also heat-killed probiotics or fractionated cellular components (exopolysaccharides, EPSs) of the bacteria can have beneficial effects on the host immune system123. Among various probiotics, L. plantarum was chosen because it is one of the most-researched species due to its immunomodulatory functionality (Table 4).
It has been reported that heat-killed and micronized L. plantarum and EPS from L. plantarum enhance phagocytic activity and cytokine production (e.g., TNF-α and IL-6) in macrophages through the activation of the NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways124,125,126,127. A study reported that micronized and heat-killed L. plantarum LM1004 resulted in a marked increase in TLR2 mRNA expression levels in macrophages. Moreover, various types of L. plantarum, such as heat-killed L. plantarum Ln1, live L. plantarum nF1 and dead nanosized L. plantarum nF1, have been reported to enhance NO production and iNOS expression levels in macrophages24,124,128. In addition, mouse DCs treated with L. plantarum showed upregulated levels of cytokines, including IL-10, IL-12 p40, IL-20 p70, and TNF-α, through the upregulation of the NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways129.
L. plantarum is known to modulate the adaptive immune system through the regulation of T cells as well as IgA production. Dead L. plantarum has been reported to promote TH 1 (TNF-α and IL-12 p70) and TH 17 (IL-6 and IL-17A) responses rather than TH 2 (IL-4 and IL-5) responses in splenocytes isolated from normal male C57BL/6J mice24. In an OVA/alum-immunized mouse model, L. plantarum YU-treated mice produced higher levels of IFN-γ, while the levels of the TH 2-related cytokines IL-4 and IL-10 were not significantly different than those in the control mice130. In addition to T cell regulation, L. plantarum can enhance IgA production. IgA production was significantly stimulated by oral administration of L. plantarum YU130. Additionally, in a cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppression mouse model, the number of cells secreting IgA and the level of secretory IgA (sIgA) in the small intestine was increased by the administration of L. plantarum131. Treatment with L. plantarum in mice challenged with intranasal inoculation of influenza A virus (IFV) enhanced IFV-specific sIgA levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). As a result, viral proliferation and the viral titer in the lung were strongly suppressed by the administration of L. plantarum130,132.
The immunomodulatory effects of L. plantarum were also demonstrated in a clinical study. The study showed that L. plantarum restored the number of regulatory T cells in the serum that were suppressed by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). L. plantarum also enhanced memory responses of T cells against tetanus toxoid (TT)-antigen and upregulated expression of genes associated with T and B cell function in the small intestinal mucosa133. L. plantarum was also found to improve immune responses in older subjects. In this study, researchers demonstrated that a high dose of L. plantarum increased the composition of activated NK cells, whereas a low dose of L. plantarum increased activated T cells, B cells, and APCs134. This clinical study revealed that the concentration of L. plantarum may elicit different immune responses, suggesting that the concentration may be an important factor when consuming L. plantarum to control immune function. These various previous studies have shown that various types of L. plantarum can activate both the innate immune response and the adaptive immune response.
Conclusion
In this review, we summarized food materials with immunomodulatory effects that have been studied in vitro, in vivo, and in clinical models (Tables 1–4). The immune system is essential for providing protection against pathogens. Hosts with compromised or weakened immune function are more vulnerable to cancer or infectious diseases. The consumption of functional foods such as ginseng, mushroom, poly-γ-glutamate, chlorella, and L. plantarum may improve the immunological defense system, which in turn could help protect the body from diseases. Further identification of novel functional foods with immunomodulatory activity and study of their molecular mechanisms could aid in improving public health.
References
Frisch, M., Biggar, R. J., Engels, E. A., Goedert, J. J. & Group, A. I.-C. M. R. S. Association of cancer with AIDS-related immunosuppression in adults. J. Am. Med. Assoc. 285, 1736–1745 (2001).
Rier, S. E. Environmental immune disruption: a comorbidity factor for reproduction? Fertil. Steril. 89, e103–e108 (2008).
Imai, K., Matsuyama, S., Miyake, S., Suga, K. & Nakachi, K. Natural cytotoxic activity of peripheral-blood lymphocytes and cancer incidence: an 11-year follow-up study of a general population. Lancet 356, 1795–1799 (2000).
Montecino-Rodriguez, E., Berent-Maoz, B. & Dorshkind, K. Causes, consequences, and reversal of immune system aging. J. Clin. Invest. 123, 958–965 (2013).
Nakano, Y. et al. Immune function and lifestyle of taxi drivers in Japan. Ind. Health 36, 32–39 (1998).
Thorburn, A. N., Macia, L. & Mackay, C. R. Diet, metabolites, and “western-lifestyle” inflammatory diseases. Immunity 40, 833–842 (2014).
Cava, E., Neri, B., Carbonelli, M. G., Riso, S. & Carbone, S. Obesity pandemic during COVID-19 outbreak: Narrative review and future considerations. Clin. Nutr. 40, 1637–1643 (2021).
Hachimura, S., Totsuka, M. & Hosono, A. Immunomodulation by food: impact on gut immunity and immune cell function. Biosci. Biotechnol. Biochem. 82, 584–599 (2018).
Iwasaki, A. & Pillai, P. S. Innate immunity to influenza virus infection. Nat. Rev. Immunol. 14, 315–328 (2014).
Linehan, E. & Fitzgerald, D. C. Ageing and the immune system: focus on macrophages. Eur. J. Microbiol. Immunol. 5, 14–24 (2015).
Lukacs, N. W., Strieter, R. M., Chensue, S. W., Widmer, M. & Kunkel, S. L. TNF-alpha mediates recruitment of neutrophils and eosinophils during airway inflammation. J. Immunol. 154, 5411–5417 (1995).
Almishri, W. et al. TNFalpha augments cytokine-induced NK Cell IFNgamma production through TNFR2. J. Innate Immun. 8, 617–629 (2016).
Sharma, J. N., Al-Omran, A. & Parvathy, S. S. Role of nitric oxide in inflammatory diseases. Inflammopharmacology 15, 252–259 (2007).
Lee, J., Choi, J. W., Sohng, J. K., Pandey, R. P. & Park, Y. I. The immunostimulating activity of quercetin 3-O-xyloside in murine macrophages via activation of the ASK1/MAPK/NF-κB signaling pathway. Int. Immunopharmacol. 31, 88–97 (2016).
Hirschfeld, M., Ma, Y., Weis, J., Vogel, S. & Weis, J. Cutting edge: repurification of lipopolysaccharide eliminates signaling through both human and murine toll-like receptor 2. J. Immunol. 165, 618–622 (2000).
Takeuchi, O. & Akira, S. Toll-like receptors; their physiological role and signal transduction system. Int. Immunopharmacol. 1, 625–635 (2001).
Vivier, E., Nunes, J. A. & Vely, F. Natural killer cell signaling pathways. Science 306, 1517–1519 (2004).
Guermonprez, P., Valladeau, J., Zitvogel, L., Thery, C. & Amigorena, S. Antigen presentation and T cell stimulation by dendritic cells. Annu. Rev. Immunol. 20, 621–667 (2002).
Iwasaki, A. & Medzhitov, R. Control of adaptive immunity by the innate immune system. Nat. Immunol. 16, 343–353 (2015).
Hahn, H. & Kaufmann, S. H. The role of cell-mediated immunity in bacterial infections. Rev. Infect. Dis. 3, 1221–1250 (1981).
Andersen, M. H., Schrama, D., Thor Straten, P. & Becker, J. C. Cytotoxic T cells. J. Invest. Dermatol. 126, 32–41 (2006).
Ekkens, M. J. et al. Th1 and Th2 cells help CD8 T-cell responses. Infect. Immun. 75, 2291–2296 (2007).
Walker, J. A. & McKenzie, A. N. J. TH2 cell development and function. Nat. Rev. Immunol. 18, 121–133 (2018).
Lee, H. A., Kim, H., Lee, K. W. & Park, K. Y. Dead Lactobacillus plantarum stimulates and skews immune responses toward T helper 1 and 17 Polarizations in RAW 264.7 cells and mouse splenocytes. J. Microbiol. Biotechnol. 26, 469–476 (2016).
Yu, S.-L., Kuan, W.-P., Wong, C., Li, E. & Tam, L.-S. Immunopathological roles of cytokines, chemokines, signaling molecules, and pattern-recognition receptors in systemic lupus erythematosus. Clin. Dev. Immunol. 2012, 715190 (2012).
Tan, B. K. & Vanitha, J. Immunomodulatory and antimicrobial effects of some traditional chinese medicinal herbs: a review. Curr. Med. Chem. 11, 1423–1430 (2004).
Jin, Y. et al. Effect of white, red and black ginseng on physicochemical properties and ginsenosides. Plant Foods Hum. Nutr. 70, 141–145 (2015).
Zhang, H. M. et al. Holistic quality evaluation of commercial white and red ginseng using a UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS-based metabolomics approach. J. Pharm. Biomed. 62, 258–273 (2012).
Lee, S. Y. et al. Chemical constituents and biological activities of the berry of Panax ginseng. J. Med. Plants Res. 4, 349–353 (2010).
Shibata, S. Chemistry and cancer preventing activities of ginseng saponins and some related triterpenoid compounds. J. Korean Med. Sci. 16, S28–S37 (2001).
Lim, T. G. et al. White ginseng extract induces immunomodulatory effects via the MKK4-JNK pathway. Food Sci. Biotechnol. 25, 1737–1744 (2016).
Jang, H. I. & Shin, H. M. Wild Panax ginseng (Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer) protects against methotrexate-induced cell regression by enhancing the immune response in RAW 264.7 macrophages. Am. J. Chin. Med. 38, 949–960 (2010).
Um, Y. et al. Wild simulated ginseng activates mouse macrophage, RAW264.7 cells through TRL2/4-dependent activation of MAPK, NF-kappaB and PI3K/AKT pathways. J. Ethnopharmacol. 263, 113218 (2020).
Kang, S. & Min, H. Ginseng, the ‘Immunity Boost’: the effects of Panax ginseng on immune system. J. Ginseng Res. 36, 354–368 (2012).
Shen, T. et al. Polysaccharide from wheat bran induces cytokine expression via the toll-like receptor 4-mediated p38 MAPK signaling pathway and prevents cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppression in mice. Food Nutr. Res. 61, 1344523 (2017).
Yang, Y. et al. Immunostimulatory effects of sulfated chitosans on RAW 264.7 mouse macrophages via the activation of PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. Int. J. Biol. Macromol. 108, 1310–1321 (2018).
He, L. X. et al. Ginseng (Panax ginseng Meyer) oligopeptides regulate innate and adaptive immune responses in mice via increased macrophage phagocytosis capacity, NK cell activity and Th cells secretion. Food Funct. 8, 3523–3532 (2017).
Larsen, M. W., Moser, C., Hoiby, N., Song, Z. & Kharazmi, A. Ginseng modulates the immune response by induction of interleukin-12 production. APMIS 112, 369–373 (2004).
Kim, M. H. et al. Immunomodulatory activity of ginsan, a polysaccharide of Panax ginseng, on dendritic cells. Korean J. Physiol. Pharmacol. 13, 169–173 (2009).
Ahn, J. Y. et al. The immunomodulator ginsan induces resistance to experimental sepsis by inhibiting Toll-like receptor-mediated inflammatory signals. Eur. J. Immunol. 36, 37–45 (2006).
Song, J. Y. et al. Induction of secretory and tumoricidal activities in peritoneal macrophages by ginsan. Int. Immunopharmacol. 2, 857–865 (2002).
Takei, M., Tachikawa, E., Hasegawa, H. & Lee, J. J. Dendritic cells maturation promoted by M1 and M4, end products of steroidal ginseng saponins metabolized in digestive tracts, drive a potent Th1 polarization. Biochem. Pharmacol. 68, 441–452 (2004).
Song, Z. et al. Cytokine modulating effect of ginseng treatment in a mouse model of Pseudomonas aeruginosa lung infection. J. Cyst. Fibros. 2, 112–119 (2003).
Takeda, K. & Okumura, K. Interferon-gamma-mediated natural killer cell activation by an aqueous Panax ginseng extract. Evid. Based Complement. Altern. Med. 2015, 603198 (2015).
Scaglione, F. et al. Immunomodulatory effects of two extracts of Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer. Drugs Exp. Clin. Res. 16, 537–542 (1990).
Kenarova, B., Neychev, H., Hadjiivanova, C. & Petkov, V. D. Immunomodulating activity of ginsenoside Rg1 from Panax ginseng. Jpn. J. Pharmacol. 54, 447–454 (1990).
Kim, J. Y., Germolec, D. R. & Luster, M. I. Panax ginseng as a potential immunomodulator: studies in mice. Immunopharm. Immunot. 12, 257–276 (1990).
Liou, C. J., Huang, W. C. & Tseng, J. Short-term oral administration of ginseng extract induces type-1 cytokine production. Immunopharm. Immunot. 28, 227–240 (2006).
Liou, C. J., Li, M. L. & Tseng, J. Intraperitoneal injection of ginseng extract enhances both immunoglobulin and cytokine production in mice. Am. J. Chin. Med. 32, 75–88 (2004).
Qu, D. F. et al. Ginsenoside Rg1 enhances immune response induced by recombinant Toxoplasma gondii SAG1 antigen. Vet. Parasitol. 179, 28–34 (2011).
Na, H. S., Lim, Y. J., Yun, Y. S., Kweon, M. N. & Lee, H. C. Ginsan enhances humoral antibody response to orally delivered antigen. Immune Netw. 10, 5–14 (2010).
Su, X., Pei, Z. & Hu, S. Ginsenoside Re as an adjuvant to enhance the immune response to the inactivated rabies virus vaccine in mice. Int. Immunopharmacol. 20, 283–289 (2014).
Han, S. K., Song, J. Y., Yun, Y. S. & Yi, S. Y. Ginsan improved Th1 immune response inhibited by gamma radiation. Arch. Pharm. Res. 28, 343–350 (2005).
Lee, E. J. et al. Ginsenoside Rg1 enhances CD4(+) T-cell activities and modulates Th1/Th2 differentiation. Int. Immunopharmacol. 4, 235–244 (2004).
Berek, L. et al. Effects of naturally occurring glucosides, solasodine glucosides, ginsenosides and parishin derivatives on multidrug resistance of lymphoma cells and leukocyte functions. Vivo 15, 151–156 (2001).
Lee, J. H. & Han, Y. Ginsenoside Rg1 helps mice resist to disseminated candidiasis by Th1 type differentiation of CD4+ T cell. Int. Immunopharmacol. 6, 1424–1430 (2006).
Rivera, E., Ekholm Pettersson, F., Inganas, M., Paulie, S. & Gronvik, K. O. The Rb1 fraction of ginseng elicits a balanced Th1 and Th2 immune response. Vaccine 23, 5411–5419 (2005).
Wang, Y. et al. A solution with ginseng saponins and selenium as vaccine diluent to increase Th1/Th2 immune responses in mice. J. Immunol. Res. 2020, 2714257 (2020).
Peck, A. & Mellins, E. D. Precarious balance: Th17 cells in host defense. Infect. Immun. 78, 32–38 (2010).
Maqbool, B. et al. Ginseng stem-leaf saponins in combination with selenium enhance immune responses to an attenuated pseudorabies virus vaccine. Microbiol. Immunol. 63, 269–279 (2019).
Cox, J. C. & Coulter, A. R. Adjuvants—a classification and review of their modes of action. Vaccine 15, 248–256 (1997).
Shin, K. K. et al. Korean red ginseng plays an anti-aging role by modulating expression of aging-related genes and immune cell subsets. Molecules 25, 1492 (2020).
Kim, H. et al. Red ginseng and vitamin C increase immune cell activity and decrease lung inflammation induced by influenza A virus/H1N1 infection. J. Pharm. Pharmacol. 68, 406–420 (2016).
Byeon, S. E. et al. Molecular mechanism of macrophage activation by red ginseng acidic polysaccharide from Korean red ginseng. Mediat. Inflamm. 2012, 732860 (2012).
Quan, F. S., Compans, R. W., Cho, Y. K. & Kang, S. M. Ginseng and Salviae herbs play a role as immune activators and modulate immune responses during influenza virus infection. Vaccine 25, 272–282 (2007).
Kwok, H. H. et al. Anti-inflammatory effects of indirubin derivatives on influenza A virus-infected human pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells. Sci. Rep. 6, 18941 (2016).
Chan, L. Y. et al. Dual functions of ginsenosides in protecting human endothelial cells against influenza H9N2-induced inflammation and apoptosis. J. Ethnopharmacol. 137, 1542–1546 (2011).
Yoo, D. G. et al. Protective effect of Korean red ginseng extract on the infections by H1N1 and H3N2 influenza viruses in mice. J. Med. Food 15, 855–862 (2012).
Yang, Z., Chen, A., Sun, H., Ye, Y. & Fang, W. Ginsenoside Rd elicits Th1 and Th2 immune responses to ovalbumin in mice. Vaccine 25, 161–169 (2007).
Song, X., Chen, J., Sakwiwatkul, K., Li, R. & Hu, S. Enhancement of immune responses to influenza vaccine (H3N2) by ginsenoside Re. Int. Immunopharmacol. 10, 351–356 (2010).
Su, F., Yuan, L., Zhang, L. & Hu, S. Ginsenosides Rg1 and Re act as adjuvant via TLR4 signaling pathway. Vaccine 30, 4106–4112 (2012).
Sun, J., Song, X. & Hu, S. Ginsenoside Rg1 and aluminum hydroxide synergistically promote immune responses to ovalbumin in BALB/c mice. Clin. Vaccin. Immunol. 15, 303–307 (2008).
Bremner, P. & Heinrich, M. Natural products as targeted modulators of the nuclear factor-kappaB pathway. J. Pharm. Pharmacol. 54, 453–472 (2002).
Hyun, S. H. et al. Immuno-enhancement effects of Korean Red Ginseng in healthy adults: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. J. Ginseng Res. 45, 191–198 (2021).
Lee, C. S. et al. Preventive effect of Korean red ginseng for acute respiratory illness: a randomized and double-blind clinical trial. J. Korean Med. Sci. 27, 1472–1478 (2012).
Mizuno, T. Bioactive biomolecules of mushrooms—food, function and medicinal effect of mushroom fungi. Food Rev. Int. 11, 7–21 (1995).
Takimoto, H., Kato, H., Kaneko, M. & Kumazawa, Y. Amelioration of skewed Th1/Th2 balance in tumor-bearing and asthma-induced mice by oral administration of Agaricus blazei extracts. Immunopharm. Immunotoxicol. 30, 747–760 (2008).
Takimoto, H., Wakita, D., Kawaguchi, K. & Kumazawa, Y. Potentiation of cytotoxic activity in naive and tumor-bearing mice by oral administration of hot-water extracts from Agaricus brazei fruiting bodies. Biol. Pharm. Bull. 27, 404–406 (2004).
Lin, J. G. et al. An extract of Agaricus blazei Murill administered orally promotes immune responses in murine leukemia BALB/c mice in vivo. Integr. Cancer Ther. 11, 29–36 (2012).
Val, C. H. et al. Effect of mushroom Agaricus blazei on immune response and development of experimental cerebral malaria. Malar. J. 14, 311 (2015).
Guo, L. et al. Characterization and immunostimulatory activity of a polysaccharide from the spores of Ganoderma lucidum. Int. Immunopharmacol. 9, 1175–1182 (2009).
Wang, G. et al. Enhancement of IL-2 and IFN-gamma expression and NK cells activity involved in the anti-tumor effect of ganoderic acid Me in vivo. Int. Immunopharmacol. 7, 864–870 (2007).
Wang, P. Y., Zhu, X. L. & Lin, Z. B. Antitumor and immunomodulatory effects of polysaccharides from broken-spore of Ganoderma lucidum. Front. Pharmacol. 3, 135 (2012).
Gao, Y., Zhou, S., Jiang, W., Huang, M. & Dai, X. Effects of ganopoly (a Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharide extract) on the immune functions in advanced-stage cancer patients. Immunol. Invest. 32, 201–215 (2003).
Kodama, N., Harada, N. & Nanba, H. A polysaccharide, extract from Grifola frondosa, induces Th-1 dominant responses in carcinoma-bearing BALB/c mice. Jpn. J. Pharmacol. 90, 357–360 (2002).
Inoue, A., Kodama, N. & Nanba, H. Effect of maitake (Grifola frondosa) D-fraction on the control of the T lymph node Th-1/Th-2 proportion. Biol. Pharm. Bull. 25, 536–540 (2002).
Kodama, N., Komuta, K., Sakai, N. & Nanba, H. Effects of D-Fraction, a polysaccharide from Grifola frondosa on tumor growth involve activation of NK cells. Biol. Pharm. Bull. 25, 1647–1650 (2002).
Harada, N., Kodama, N. & Nanba, H. Relationship between dendritic cells and the D-fraction-induced Th-1 dominant response in BALB/c tumor-bearing mice. Cancer Lett. 192, 181–187 (2003).
Kodama, N., Mizuno, S., Nanba, H. & Saito, N. Potential antitumor activity of a low-molecular-weight protein fraction from Grifola frondosa through enhancement of cytokine production. J. Med. Food 13, 20–30 (2010).
Masuda, Y. et al. Oral administration of soluble beta-glucans extracted from Grifola frondosa induces systemic antitumor immune response and decreases immunosuppression in tumor-bearing mice. Int. J. Cancer 133, 108–119 (2013).
Masuda, Y., Murata, Y., Hayashi, M. & Nanba, H. Inhibitory effect of MD-Fraction on tumor metastasis: involvement of NK cell activation and suppression of intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1 expression in lung vascular endothelial cells. Biol. Pharm. Bull. 31, 1104–1108 (2008).
Deng, G. et al. A phase I/II trial of a polysaccharide extract from Grifola frondosa (Maitake mushroom) in breast cancer patients: immunological effects. J. Cancer Res. Clin. Oncol. 135, 1215–1221 (2009).
Volman, J. J. et al. Effects of mushroom-derived beta-glucan-rich polysaccharide extracts on nitric oxide production by bone marrow-derived macrophages and nuclear factor-kappaB transactivation in Caco-2 reporter cells: can effects be explained by structure? Mol. Nutr. Food Res. 54, 268–276 (2010).
Akramiene, D., Kondrotas, A., Didziapetriene, J. & Kevelaitis, E. Effects of beta-glucans on the immune system. Medicines 43, 597–606 (2007).
Chan, G. C., Chan, W. K. & Sze, D. M. The effects of beta-glucan on human immune and cancer cells. J. Hematol. Oncol. 2, 25 (2009).
Kim, H. S., Hong, J. T., Kim, Y. & Han, S. B. Stimulatory effect of beta-glucans on immune cells. Immune Netw. 11, 191–195 (2011).
Ashiuchi, M. et al. Isolation of Bacillus subtilis (chungkookjang), a poly-gamma-glutamate producer with high genetic competence. Appl. Microbiol. Biot. 57, 764–769 (2001).
Ahn, H. et al. Poly-gamma-glutamic acid from Bacillus subtilis upregulates pro-inflammatory cytokines while inhibiting NLRP3, NLRC4 and AIM2 inflammasome activation. Cell. Mol. Immunol. 15, 111–119 (2018).
Kim, T. W. et al. Oral administration of high molecular mass poly-gamma-glutamate induces NK cell-mediated antitumor immunity. J. Immunol. 179, 775–780 (2007).
Lee, S. W., Park, H. J., Park, S. H., Kim, N. & Hong, S. Immunomodulatory effect of poly-gamma-glutamic acid derived from Bacillus subtilis on natural killer dendritic cells. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 443, 413–421 (2014).
Lee, T. Y. et al. Oral administration of poly-gamma-glutamate induces TLR4- and dendritic cell-dependent antitumor effect. Cancer Immunol. Immunother. 58, 1781–1794 (2009).
Cho, H. W. et al. Short-term clinical and immunologic effects of poly-gamma-glutamic acid (gamma-PGA) in women with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 1 (CIN 1): a multicenter, randomized, double blind, phase II trial. PLoS ONE 14, e0217745 (2019).
Kim, K. S. et al. A single-center, randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study evaluating the effects of poly-gamma-glutamate on human NK cell activity after an 8-week oral administration in healthy volunteers. Evid. Based Complement. Altern. Med. 2013, 635960 (2013).
Kim, E. H., Choi, Y. K., Kim, C. J., Sung, M. H. & Poo, H. Intranasal administration of poly-gamma glutamate induced antiviral activity and protective immune responses against H1N1 influenza A virus infection. Virol. J. 12, 160 (2015).
Rani, K., Sandal, N. & Sahoo, P. A comprehensive review on chlorella-its composition, health benefits, market and regulatory scenario. Pharma Innov. J. 7, 584–589 (2018).
Chakka, S., Concha, J. S. S., Bax, C. E., Zeidi, M. & Werth, V. P. The effects of immunostimulatory herbal supplements on autoimmune skin diseases. J. Am. Acad. Dermatol. 84, 1051–1058 (2020).
Cheng, D. et al. Dietary Chlorella vulgaris ameliorates altered immunomodulatory functions in cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppressive mice. Nutrients 9, 708 (2017).
An, H. J. et al. Effect of Chlorella vulgaris on immune-enhancement and cytokine production in vivo and in vitro. Food Sci. Biotechnol. 17, 953–958 (2008).
Kwak, J. H. et al. Beneficial immunostimulatory effect of short-term Chlorella supplementation: enhancement of natural killer cell activity and early inflammatory response (randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial). Nutr. J. 11, 53 (2012).
An, B. K., Kim, K. E., Jeon, J. Y. & Lee, K. W. Effect of dried Chlorella vulgaris and Chlorella growth factor on growth performance, meat qualities and humoral immune responses in broiler chickens. Springerplus 5, 718 (2016).
Kang, H. K. et al. Effect of various forms of dietary Chlorella supplementation on growth performance, immune characteristics, and intestinal microflora population of broiler chickens. J. Appl. Poult. Res. 22, 100–108 (2013).
Hasegawa, T. et al. Augmentation of the resistance against Escherichia coli by oral-administration of a hot water extract of Chlorella vulgaris in rats. Int. J. Immunopharmacol. 11, 971–976 (1989).
Hasegawa, T. et al. Effect of hot water extract of Chlorella vulgaris on cytokine expression patterns in mice with murine acquired immunodeficiency syndrome after infection with Listeria monocytogenes. Immunopharmacology 35, 273–282 (1997).
Hasegawa, T. et al. Hot water extracts of Chlorella vulgaris reduce opportunistic infection with Listeria monocytogenes in C57BL/6 mice infected with LP-BM5 murine leukemia viruses. Int. J. Immunopharmacol. 17, 505–512 (1995).
Hasegawa, T. et al. Toll-like receptor 2 is at least partly involved in the antitumor activity of glycoprotein from Chlorella vulgaris. Int. Immunopharmacol. 2, 579–589 (2002).
Zhuang, X. et al. A comparison on the preparation of hot water extracts from Chlorella pyrenoidosa (CPEs) and radical scavenging and macrophage activation effects of CPEs. Food Funct. 5, 3252–3260 (2014).
Hsu, H. Y. et al. Immunostimulatory bioactivity of algal polysaccharides from Chlorella pyrenoidosa activates macrophages via Toll-like receptor 4. J. Agric. Food Chem. 58, 927–936 (2010).
Pugh, N., Ross, S. A., ElSohly, H. N., ElSohly, M. A. & Pasco, D. S. Isolation of three high molecular weight polysaccharide preparations with potent immunostimulatory activity from Spirulina platensis, aphanizomenon flos-aquae and Chlorella pyrenoidosa. Planta Med. 67, 737–742 (2001).
Halperin, S. A., Smith, B., Nolan, C., Shay, J. & Kralovec, J. Safety and immunoenhancing effect of a Chlorella-derived dietary supplement in healthy adults undergoing influenza vaccination: randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Can. Med. Assoc. J. 169, 111–117 (2003).
Nakano, S., Takekoshi, H. & Nakano, M. Chlorella (Chlorella pyrenoidosa) supplementation decreases dioxin and increases immunoglobulin A concentrations in breast milk. J. Med. Food 10, 134–142 (2007).
Kanouchi, H. et al. Dietary effect of Chlorella pyrenoidosa powder on immunoglobulin productivity of Sprague-Dawley rats. J. Jpn. Soc. Food Sci. 48, 634–636 (2001).
Heczko, P., Strus, M. & Kochan, P. Critical evaluation of probiotic activity of lactic acid bacteria and their effects. J. Physiol. Pharmacol. 57, 5–12 (2006).
Adams, C. The probiotic paradox: live and dead cells are biological response modifiers. Nutr. Res. Rev. 23, 37–46 (2010).
Jang, H. J., Yu, H. S., Lee, N. K. & Paik, H. D. Immune-stimulating effect of Lactobacillus plantarum Ln1 Isolated from the traditional Korean fermented food, Kimchi. J. Microbiol. Biotechnol. 30, 926–929 (2020).
Jeong, M. et al. Heat-killed Lactobacillus plantarum KCTC 13314BP enhances phagocytic activity and immunomodulatory effects via activation of MAPK and STAT3 pathways. J. Microbiol. Biotechnol. 29, 1248–1254 (2019).
Lee, J. et al. Micronized and heat-treated Lactobacillus plantarum LM1004 stimulates host immune responses via the TLR-2/MAPK/NF-kappaB signalling pathway in vitro and in vivo. J. Microbiol. Biotechnol. 29, 704–712 (2019).
Wang, J., Wu, T., Fang, X., Min, W. & Yang, Z. Characterization and immunomodulatory activity of an exopolysaccharide produced by Lactobacillus plantarum JLK0142 isolated from fermented dairy tofu. Int. J. Biol. Macromol. 115, 985–993 (2018).
Ren, D. Y., Wang, D., Liu, H. Y., Shen, M. H. & Yu, H. S. Two strains of probiotic Lactobacillus enhance immune response and promote naive T cell polarization to Th1. Food Agr. Immunol. 30, 281–295 (2019).
Rigaux, P. et al. Immunomodulatory properties of Lactobacillus plantarum and its use as a recombinant vaccine against mite allergy. Allergy 64, 406–414 (2009).
Kawashima, T. et al. Lactobacillus plantarum strain YU from fermented foods activates Th1 and protective immune responses. Int. Immunopharmacol. 11, 2017–2024 (2011).
Junhua, X. et al. Effects of Lactobacillus plantarum NCU116 on intestine mucosal immunity in immunosuppressed mice. J. Agr. Food Chem. 63, 10914–10920 (2015).
Kikuchi, Y. et al. Oral administration of Lactobacillus plantarum strain AYA enhances IgA secretion and provides survival protection against influenza virus infection in mice. PLoS ONE 9, e86416 (2014).
de Vos, P. et al. Lactobacillus plantarum strains can enhance human mucosal and systemic immunity and prevent non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug induced reduction in T regulatory cells. Front. Immunol. 8, 1000 (2017).
Mane, J. et al. A mixture of Lactobacillus plantarum CECT 7315 and CECT 7316 enhances systemic immunity in elderly subjects. A dose-response, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized pilot trial. Nutr. Hosp. 26, 228–235 (2011).
Choi, H. S. et al. Red ginseng acidic polysaccharide (RGAP) in combination with IFN-gamma results in enhanced macrophage function through activation of the NF-kappaB pathway. Biosci. Biotechnol. Biochem. 72, 1817–1825 (2008).
Yuminamochi, E., Koike, T., Takeda, K., Horiuchi, I. & Okumura, K. Interleukin-12- and interferon-gamma-mediated natural killer cell activation by Agaricus blazei Murill. Immunology 121, 197–206 (2007).
Acknowledgements
This work was supported by a National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) grant funded by the Korean government (MSIP) (NRF-2020R1A2C1010703). This research was also supported in part by the Brain Korea 21 (BK21) program.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Competing interests
The authors declare no competing interests.
Additional information
Publisher’s note Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article’s Creative Commons license, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article’s Creative Commons license and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.
About this article
Cite this article
Kim, J.H., Kim, D.H., Jo, S. et al. Immunomodulatory functional foods and their molecular mechanisms. Exp Mol Med 54, 1–11 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s12276-022-00724-0
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s12276-022-00724-0
This article is cited by
-
Non-specific effects of inactivated Mycobacterium bovis oral and parenteral treatment in a rabbit scabies model
Veterinary Research (2024)
-
Macrophages in immunoregulation and therapeutics
Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy (2023)
-
Effect of replacing inorganic iron with iron-rich microbial preparations on growth performance, serum parameters and iron metabolism of weaned piglets
Veterinary Research Communications (2023)
