Neuroprotective and Anti-Inflammatory Activity of <i>Undaria pinnatifida</i> Fucoidan In Vivo—A Proteomic Investigation

<i>Undaria pinnatifida</i> fucoidan (UPF), a bioactive sulphated polysaccharide, is widely recognised for its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antitumor, anticoagulant, antiviral, and immunomodulatory properties. However, the precise mechanisms by which UPF regulates inflammation and neur...

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Main Authors: Cheng Yang, Corinna Dwan, Barbara C. Wimmer, Maurizio Ronci, Richard Wilson, Luke Johnson, Vanni Caruso
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:Marine Drugs
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/23/5/189
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author Cheng Yang
Corinna Dwan
Barbara C. Wimmer
Maurizio Ronci
Richard Wilson
Luke Johnson
Vanni Caruso
author_facet Cheng Yang
Corinna Dwan
Barbara C. Wimmer
Maurizio Ronci
Richard Wilson
Luke Johnson
Vanni Caruso
author_sort Cheng Yang
collection DOAJ
description <i>Undaria pinnatifida</i> fucoidan (UPF), a bioactive sulphated polysaccharide, is widely recognised for its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antitumor, anticoagulant, antiviral, and immunomodulatory properties. However, the precise mechanisms by which UPF regulates inflammation and neuronal health remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the effects of UPF supplementation on pro-inflammatory cytokines in skeletal muscle, small intestine, and the hypothalamus, as well as plasma cytokine levels. Additionally, a brain proteomic investigation in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) was performed to assess UPF’s impact on neuronal protein expression in mice. A total of 64 C57BL/6J mice were administered either a standard chow or high-fat diet (HFD) with or without UPF (400 mg/kg/day) for 10 weeks. In HFD-fed mice, UPF significantly reduced the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6) in skeletal muscle, small intestine, and hypothalamus, while also lowering circulating IL-1α and IL-6 levels. Proteomic analysis of the NAc revealed that UPF modulated proteins involved in oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, neurotransmitter regulation, and endoplasmic reticulum stress. In contrast, in chow-fed mice, UPF had no effect on the neuroinflammatory–oxidative stress markers but influenced the abundance of proteins associated with immune response and innate immunity. These findings suggest that UPF modulates stress-response pathways in a diet-dependent manner, supporting its potential neuroprotective role in inflammation-related disorders and brain health.
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spelling doaj-art-80c20228a82e4b799b009cf07af8418a2025-08-20T03:47:57ZengMDPI AGMarine Drugs1660-33972025-04-0123518910.3390/md23050189Neuroprotective and Anti-Inflammatory Activity of <i>Undaria pinnatifida</i> Fucoidan In Vivo—A Proteomic InvestigationCheng Yang0Corinna Dwan1Barbara C. Wimmer2Maurizio Ronci3Richard Wilson4Luke Johnson5Vanni Caruso6School of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7005, AustraliaMarinova Pty Ltd., 249 Kennedy Drive, Cambridge, TAS 7170, AustraliaMarinova Pty Ltd., 249 Kennedy Drive, Cambridge, TAS 7170, AustraliaDepartment of Medical, Oral and Biotechnology Sciences “G.D’Annunzio”, 66100 Chieti, ItalyCentral Science Laboratory, College of Science and Engineering, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7001, AustraliaSchool of Psychological Sciences, Psychology, University of Tasmania, Launceston, TAS 7248, AustraliaSchool of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7005, Australia<i>Undaria pinnatifida</i> fucoidan (UPF), a bioactive sulphated polysaccharide, is widely recognised for its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antitumor, anticoagulant, antiviral, and immunomodulatory properties. However, the precise mechanisms by which UPF regulates inflammation and neuronal health remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the effects of UPF supplementation on pro-inflammatory cytokines in skeletal muscle, small intestine, and the hypothalamus, as well as plasma cytokine levels. Additionally, a brain proteomic investigation in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) was performed to assess UPF’s impact on neuronal protein expression in mice. A total of 64 C57BL/6J mice were administered either a standard chow or high-fat diet (HFD) with or without UPF (400 mg/kg/day) for 10 weeks. In HFD-fed mice, UPF significantly reduced the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6) in skeletal muscle, small intestine, and hypothalamus, while also lowering circulating IL-1α and IL-6 levels. Proteomic analysis of the NAc revealed that UPF modulated proteins involved in oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, neurotransmitter regulation, and endoplasmic reticulum stress. In contrast, in chow-fed mice, UPF had no effect on the neuroinflammatory–oxidative stress markers but influenced the abundance of proteins associated with immune response and innate immunity. These findings suggest that UPF modulates stress-response pathways in a diet-dependent manner, supporting its potential neuroprotective role in inflammation-related disorders and brain health.https://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/23/5/189fucoidan<i>Undaria pinnatifida</i>high-fat dietanti-inflammatory agentsoxidative stressneuroprotection
spellingShingle Cheng Yang
Corinna Dwan
Barbara C. Wimmer
Maurizio Ronci
Richard Wilson
Luke Johnson
Vanni Caruso
Neuroprotective and Anti-Inflammatory Activity of <i>Undaria pinnatifida</i> Fucoidan In Vivo—A Proteomic Investigation
Marine Drugs
fucoidan
<i>Undaria pinnatifida</i>
high-fat diet
anti-inflammatory agents
oxidative stress
neuroprotection
title Neuroprotective and Anti-Inflammatory Activity of <i>Undaria pinnatifida</i> Fucoidan In Vivo—A Proteomic Investigation
title_full Neuroprotective and Anti-Inflammatory Activity of <i>Undaria pinnatifida</i> Fucoidan In Vivo—A Proteomic Investigation
title_fullStr Neuroprotective and Anti-Inflammatory Activity of <i>Undaria pinnatifida</i> Fucoidan In Vivo—A Proteomic Investigation
title_full_unstemmed Neuroprotective and Anti-Inflammatory Activity of <i>Undaria pinnatifida</i> Fucoidan In Vivo—A Proteomic Investigation
title_short Neuroprotective and Anti-Inflammatory Activity of <i>Undaria pinnatifida</i> Fucoidan In Vivo—A Proteomic Investigation
title_sort neuroprotective and anti inflammatory activity of i undaria pinnatifida i fucoidan in vivo a proteomic investigation
topic fucoidan
<i>Undaria pinnatifida</i>
high-fat diet
anti-inflammatory agents
oxidative stress
neuroprotection
url https://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/23/5/189
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