Browsing by Author "Ramstead, Andrew G."

Now showing 1 - 2 of 2

Aging influences the response of T cells to stimulation by the ellagitannin, oenothein B
(2015-06) Ramstead, Andrew G.; Schepetkin, Igor A.; Todd, Kimberly; Loeffelholz, James; Berardinelli, James G.; Quinn, Mark T.; Jutila, Mark A.
Several plant extracts, including certain polyphenols, prime innate lymphocytes and enhance responses to secondary stimuli. Oenothein B, a polyphenol isolated from Epilobium angustifolium and other plant sources, enhances IFNÎ³ production by both bovine and human NK cells and T cells, alone and in response to secondary stimulation by cytokines or tumor cells. Innate immune cell responsiveness is known to be affected by aging, but whether polyphenol responses by these cells are also impacted by aging is not known. Therefore, we examined oenothein B responsiveness in T cells from cord blood, young, and adult donors. We found that oenothein B stimulates bovine and human T cells from individuals over a broad range of ages, as measured by increased IL-2RÎ± and CD69 expression. However, clear differences in induction of cytokine production by T cells were seen. In T cells from human cord blood and bovine calves, oenothein B was unable to induce IFNÎ³ production. However, oenothein B induced IFNÎ³ production by T cells from adult humans and cattle. In addition, oenothein B induced GM-CSF production by human adult T cells, but not cord blood T cells. Within the responsive T cell population, we found that CD45RO + memory T cells expressed more cytokines in response to oenothein B than CD45RO âˆ’ T cells. In summary, our data suggest that the immunostimulation of T cells by oenothein B is influenced by age, particularly with respect to immune cytokine production.
Therapeutic Potential of Polyphenols from Epilobium Angustifolium (Fireweed).
(2016-05) Schepetkin, Igor A.; Ramstead, Andrew G.; Kirpotina, Liliya N.; Voyich, Jovanka M.; Jutila, Mark A.; Quinn, Mark T.
Epilobium angustifolium is a medicinal plant used around the world in traditional medicine for the treatment of many disorders and ailments. Experimental studies have demonstrated that Epilobium extracts possess a broad range of pharmacological and therapeutic effects, including antioxidant, anti-proliferative, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and anti-aging properties. Flavonoids and ellagitannins, such as oenothein B, are among the compounds considered to be the primary biologically active components in Epilobium extracts. In this review, we focus on the biological properties and the potential clinical usefulness of oenothein B, flavonoids, and other polyphenols derived from E. angustifolium. Understanding the biochemical properties and therapeutic effects of polyphenols present in E. angustifolium extracts will benefit further development of therapeutic treatments from this plant.