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. 2020 May 8;18(5):246.
doi: 10.3390/md18050246.

Oral Fucoidan Attenuates Lung Pathology and Clinical Signs in a Severe Influenza a Mouse Model

Claire Richards  1 , Neil A Williams  2 , J Helen Fitton  3 , Damien N Stringer  3 , Samuel S Karpiniec  3 , Ah Young Park  3
Affiliations

Oral Fucoidan Attenuates Lung Pathology and Clinical Signs in a Severe Influenza a Mouse Model

Claire Richards et al. Mar Drugs. .

Abstract

Fucoidans are known to be effective inhibitors of inflammation, and of virus binding and cellular entry. Undaria pinnatifida-derived fucoidan (UPF) was assessed in a severe influenza A (H1N1, PR8) infection model in mice. Initially, UPF was gavaged at 3.52 mg daily in a treatment model. Gross lung pathology (consolidation) was significantly reduced as compared to controls. UPF was then presented as a feed supplement at a rate of either nil, 3.52 mg/day or 7.04 mg/day in a prophylactic model, dosed three days before infection. A significant improvement was observed in the clinical signs of ill-health, as well as a reduction in gross lung pathology in animals treated with the higher dose, although there was no significant reduction in lung viral titres.

Keywords: Undaria pinnatifida; anti-viral; fucoidan; inflammation; influenza; lung; mice.

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Conflict of interest statement

Janet Helen Fitton, Damien Stringer, Sam Karpiniec and Ah Young Park are employees of Marinova Pty Ltd. Claire Richards and Neil Williams are employees of KWS Biotest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
(a) Percentage bodyweight change following infection with influenza virus compared with start weight of treated and untreated mice with Undaria pinnatifida fucoidan (UPF). (b) Clinical disease scores of treated and untreated mice with UPF following infection with influenza virus. Data are presented as mean per group (n = 10) ± SEM.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Gross lung pathology at termination following infection with influenza virus. Data are presented as mean per group (n = 10) ± SEM (* p < 0.05, unpaired t-test).
Figure 3
Figure 3
Representative images of lungs at termination following infection with influenza. Ten mice were allotted to either untreated or UPF treated groups. The numbers refer to four random animals in each study group, followed by the score for gross lung pathology, which relates to the area of darker colour.
Figure 4
Figure 4
(a) Percentage bodyweight change following infection with influenza virus compared with start weight. (b) Clinical disease scores following infection with influenza virus. Data are presented as mean per group (n = 10) ± SEM (** p < 0.01, unpaired multiple t-test compared with untreated).
Figure 5
Figure 5
(a) Gross lung pathology (consolidation) at termination following infection with influenza virus. Data are presented as mean per group (n = 10) ± SEM. (* p < 0.05, unpaired t-test). (b) Lung weight at termination following infection with influenza virus. Data are presented as mean per group (n = 10) ± SEM.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cell viability after incubation with serial dilutions of influenza infected lung homogenates. Data are presented as mean optical density (n = 10) ± SEM.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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