In Vitro Study of Phycocyanin Effect on Cellular Defence Mechanisms and IL-17 Gene Expression in Stimulated Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells

Chronic inflammatory diseases are typically characterized by persistent immune responses triggered by genetic factors and the release of inflammatory markers. While current pharmacological treatments, such as steroids and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, may be effective, they have limitations and can cause side effects. This study examines the effects of phycocyanin, an antioxidant pigment extracted from Spirulina platensis , in both encapsulated (ENPC) and non-encapsulated (PC) forms on the antioxidant activity of catalase, superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1), and superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2), along with the expression of the interleukin-17 (IL-17) inflammatory gene in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) under phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-induced inflammatory conditions. The MTT assay demonstrated that phycocyanin is not toxic to PBMCs, as cell viability exceeded 96% after 48 hours. The results indicated that ENPC and PC increased the enzyme expressions of catalase, SOD, but decreased the expression of IL-17 gene. Multi-groups analysis of genes expression using Kruskal-Wallis test revealed that no significant differences in catalase, SOD1, SOD2 and IL-17 gene expressions among PBMCs treated with different concentrations of C-PC (200 and 1000 µg.mL ^− 1 ) and in ENPC and PC forms. However, Mann-Whitney non-parametric test for pairwise gene expression analysis, revealing significant differences. Catalase expression showed noteworthy distinctions between unstimulated and PHA-stimulated cells in the presence of PC at 200 µg.mL ^− 1 and 1000 µg.mL ^− 1 . Additionally, a significant contrast in SOD1 gene expression emerged between unstimulated and PHA-stimulated cells at PC 200 µg.mL ^− 1 Moreover, PHA-stimulated cells with ENPC at 1000 µg.mL ^− 1 exhibited a substantial decrease in IL-17 gene expression.