| Summary: | The therapeutic potential of bioactive nutraceutical’s has been extensively examined in the context of immune modulators that have the potential to ameliorate inflammatory conditions. This study sheds new light on the immunomodulatory properties exhibited by kappa-casein (a bovine milk derived bioactive protein) on dendritic cells (DCs), key cells involved in the inflammatory process. DCs treated with kappa-casein secrete significantly reduced levels of proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-12p70) in response to TLR and non TLR stimuli, expressed reduced levels of co-stimulatory molecules (CD80, OX40L), activation/adhesion receptors (CD54, CD209) and enhanced levels of negative regulators of cytokine signaling (SOCS1, SOCS3). Kappa-casein also impaired the capacity of DCs to elicit antigen specific responses, significantly reducing IL-2 secretion, a key cytokine required for the propagation of T-cells responses, in a non-anergic mechanism. Given the immunomodulatory effects exhibited by kappa-casein, this bioactive subunit warrants further investigation to assess its potential use as a nutraceutical.
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