Effect of Broccoli Sprouts and Live Attenuated Influenza Virus on Peripheral Blood Natural Killer Cells: A Randomized, Double-Blind Study

PLoS One. 2016 Jan 28;11(1):e0147742. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0147742. eCollection 2016.

Abstract

Enhancing antiviral host defense responses through nutritional supplementation would be an attractive strategy in the fight against influenza. Using inoculation with live attenuated influenza virus (LAIV) as an infection model, we have recently shown that ingestion of sulforaphane-containing broccoli sprout homogenates (BSH) reduces markers of viral load in the nose. To investigate the systemic effects of short-term BSH supplementation in the context of LAIV-inoculation, we examined peripheral blood immune cell populations in non-smoking subjects from this study, with a particular focus on NK cells. We carried out a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study measuring the effects of BSH (N = 13) or placebo (alfalfa sprout homogenate, ASH; N = 16) on peripheral blood mononuclear cell responses to a standard nasal vaccine dose of LAIV in healthy volunteers. Blood was drawn prior to (day-1) and post (day2, day21) LAIV inoculation and analyzed for neutrophils, monocytes, macrophages, T cells, NKT cells, and NK cells. In addition, NK cells were enriched, stimulated, and assessed for surface markers, intracellular markers, and cytotoxic potential by flow cytometry. Overall, LAIV significantly reduced NKT (day2 and day21) and T cell (day2) populations. LAIV decreased NK cell CD56 and CD158b expression, while significantly increasing CD16 expression and cytotoxic potential (on day2). BSH supplementation further increased LAIV-induced granzyme B production (day2) in NK cells compared to ASH and in the BSH group granzyme B levels appeared to be negatively associated with influenza RNA levels in nasal lavage fluid cells. We conclude that nasal influenza infection may induce complex changes in peripheral blood NK cell activation, and that BSH increases virus-induced peripheral blood NK cell granzyme B production, an effect that may be important for enhanced antiviral defense responses.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01269723.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Brassica / chemistry
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunologic Factors / administration & dosage*
  • Influenza A virus / immunology
  • Influenza Vaccines / immunology*
  • Influenza, Human / prevention & control*
  • Killer Cells, Natural / physiology*
  • Lymphocyte Count
  • Male
  • Medicago sativa / chemistry
  • Plant Extracts / immunology*
  • Vaccines, Attenuated / immunology
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Immunologic Factors
  • Influenza Vaccines
  • Plant Extracts
  • Vaccines, Attenuated

Associated data

  • ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT01269723