Immunomodulatory Effects of Modified Bovine Colostrum, Whey, and Their Combination with Other Natural Products: Effects on Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Background: Many natural products have immunomodulatory properties. However, the mechanism of immunomodulatory activities are poorly understood. Objectives: This study evaluated the influence of bovine colostrum products, a whey product, or their combinations with other natural products on human peripheral blood mononuclear cells’ (PBMC) ability to produce cytokines upon activation. Methods: PBMCs were pretreated with ultrafiltered colostrum, nano-filtered bovine colostrum, egg yolk extract, a botanical blend, colostrum + egg yolk extract, colostrum + egg yolk + botanical blend, and fermented whey and then stimulated with lipopolysaccharide or phytohemagglutinin. Cytokine production was measured by the Luminex assay. Results: All study products demonstrated immunomodulatory properties by regulating cytokines production by activated PBMCs. Ultrafiltered colostrum alone displayed the highest immune stimulatory activity. It stimulated proinflammatory cytokine production by lipopolysaccharide-activated PBMCs and suppressed cytokine production by phytohemagglutinin-activated cells. Other study products mainly suppressed cytokine release by both cell types. The immunomodulatory properties depended upon the dose of the products used in the study. Conclusions: All tested products modulated innate and adaptive immune cell activities. Most of the products demonstrated anti-inflammatory properties, except ultrafiltered colostrum, which stimulated the lipopolysaccharide-activated PBMC production of inflammatory cytokines. These products can be potentially used to support overall immune health.

Keywords

• Bovine colostrum filtrate
• Cytokines
• Egg yolk extract
• Human peripheral blood mononuclear cells
• whey