TBRI Pine Cone Extract Research Update

Bradley WG, Widen RH, Weiser AM, Powers JJ, Fountain LB, Punjwani P, Lofgren SM, Hadzic T, Klein R, Green WH, Tanaka A. The novel differentiation of human blood mononuclear cells into CD1a-negative dendritic cells is stimulated in the absence of exogenous cytokines by an extract prepared from pinecones. Int Immunopharmacol. 2003 Feb;3(2):209-23. PubMed PMID: 12586602.

Summary:

This publication describes our finding that in the presence of the pinecone extract human a particular type of human white blood cell can be converted into dendritic cells, the master controllers of the immune system. This might explain why the extract works to enhance anticancer and antiviral immune responses.

Published Abstract:

The production of dendritic cells, both in-vivo and in-vitro, has become the intense focus of research activities. Common to many of these production protocols is the use of cytokines, typically granulocyte-monocyte colony stimulating factor and either interleukin 4 or tumor necrosis factor alpha or a combination of all three. Herein, we report our findings that a proprietary pinecone extract is capable of in a dose-dependent manner, and in the absence of exogenous cytokines, the rapid differentiation from peripheral blood mononuclear cells of mature CD1a-negative dendritic cells.