Pro-inflammatory properties of shark cartilage supplement

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Rheumatology
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Cartilage erosion is a hallmark of arthritis, often linked to inflammation.
• Commercial shark cartilage (SC) is a popular supplement for chronic diseases, but its efficacy and safety are not well-established.
• Previous studies indicated SC extracts induce a Th1-type inflammatory response in human leukocytes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To further define the cellular response to shark cartilage (SC) stimulation.
• To identify the primary and secondary responding immune cells to SC.
• To investigate the signaling pathways involved in the immune response to SC.

Main Methods:

• Utilized enriched leukocyte subpopulations to classify responders to SC.
• Employed inhibitors of specific signaling pathways to verify functional effects.
• Analyzed cytokine and chemokine production, including interferon-gamma, MCP-1, and RANTES.

Main Results:

• Monocytes/macrophages were identified as the initial responders to SC, followed by lymphocytes.
• Significant production of interferon-gamma, MCP-1, and RANTES was observed.
• Jun Kinase and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathways are likely activated by SC.

Conclusions:

• Commercial shark cartilage (SC) exhibits significant immunological reactivity.
• Components in SC can stimulate immune cells, leading to inflammatory responses.
• SC supplementation may pose potential health risks, especially for individuals with inflammatory diseases.