Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neuroscience and Sensory Organs, University of Bari, Bari, Italy, Piazza G. Cesare, 11-70124 Bari, Italy.
Curr Pharm Des. 2014;20(6):1011-9. doi: 10.2174/138161282006140220144411.
Human ageing is characterized by several abnormalities of both innate and adaptive immune responses, thus leading to an increased frequency of infectious, inflammatory, allergic and autoimmune diseases. In elderly patients, among allergic diseases, asthma is a very common pathological event which complicates the dysfunction of many systems. Among a variety of natural products used to modulate the altered immune response, polyphenols have been shown to exert antiinflammatory activities in both young and aged persons. Here, special emphasis will be given to the the immune-modulating effects of Leucoselect® Phytosome® (a dietary supplement enriched in the flavonoid epigallocatechin) administered to frail elderly patients. Leucoselect® Phytosome® was able to upregulate the T helper (Th)1 response [increase in serum concentrations of interleukin (IL)-2 and interferon-γ]. On the other hand, IL-4 serum levels, as an index of Th2 function, fluctuated within normal ranges. Quite interestingly, in this cohort of frail aged patients from South Italy the balance between inflammation (IL-17) and anti-inflammation (IL-10) was preserved, thus suggesting that the Mediterranean diet might have been involved in the observed effects. In conclusion, these data support the ability of Leucoselect® Phytosome® to induce up-regulation of Th1 responses in frail elderly patients which may be beneficial in those patients affected by chronic allergic disorders.
人类衰老的特征是先天和适应性免疫反应的几种异常，从而导致传染病、炎症、过敏和自身免疫性疾病的频率增加。在老年患者中，在过敏疾病中，哮喘是一种非常常见的病理事件，它使许多系统的功能障碍复杂化。在用于调节改变的免疫反应的各种天然产物中，多酚已被证明在年轻人和老年人中具有抗炎活性。在这里，将特别强调在脆弱的老年患者中给予 Leucoselect® Phytosome®（富含类黄酮表没食子儿茶素的膳食补充剂）的免疫调节作用。Leucoselect® Phytosome®能够上调辅助性 T（Th）1 反应[增加血清白细胞介素（IL）-2 和干扰素-γ浓度]。另一方面，作为 Th2 功能的指标，血清 IL-4 水平在正常范围内波动。有趣的是，在来自意大利南部的这组脆弱的老年患者中，炎症（IL-17）和抗炎（IL-10）之间的平衡得以维持，这表明地中海饮食可能参与了观察到的效果。总之，这些数据支持 Leucoselect® Phytosome®在脆弱的老年患者中诱导 Th1 反应上调的能力，这可能对患有慢性过敏疾病的患者有益。
