Interventional Effects of Edible Bird's Nest or Sialic Acids on Sepsis-Induced Immunosuppression in Mice

Edible bird's nest (EBN) and its key component, sialic acid (SA), were investigated for their potential to counteract sepsis-induced immunosuppression. In a murine "two-hit" sepsis model, EBN and SA significantly enhanced survival, ameliorated multi-organ damage, and reduced bacterial dissemination. Crucially, they reversed immunosuppression by restoring the TNF-α-secreting capacity of immune cells. Proteomic and KEGG analyses identified T cell proliferation as a central mechanism, which was validated by CFSE assay. Furthermore, we demonstrated that this enhanced T cell proliferation is mediated through the activation of the mTOR signaling pathway. This study reveals that EBN and SA are promising immune-enhancing agents against sepsis-induced immunosuppression, offering a novel therapeutic strategy for secondary infections.