Avocado is a source of metabolites for control of mastitis pathogens. - GreenMedInfo Summary

Bovine mammary epithelial cells (bMECs) are capable of initiating an innate immune response (IIR) to invading bacteria.is not classically an intracellular pathogen, although it has been shown to be internalized into bMECs.internalizes into nonprofessional phagocytes, which allows the evasion of the IIR and turns antimicrobial therapy unsuccessful. An alternative treatment to control this pathogen is the modulation of the innate immune response of the host. The Mexican avocado (var. drymifolia) is a source of molecules with anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties. Hence, we analyze the effect of a lipid-rich extract from avocado seed (LEAS) oninternalization into bMECs and their innate immunity response. The effects of LEAS (1-500 ng/ml) on thegrowth and bMEC viability were assessed by turbidimetry and MTT assays, respectively. LEAS did not show neither antimicrobial nor cytotoxic effects.internalization into bMECs was analyzed by gentamicin protection assays. Interestingly, LEAS (1-200 ng/ml) decreased bacterial internalization (60-80%) into bMECs. This effect correlated with NO production and the induction of the gene expression of IL-10, while the expression of the proinflammatory cytokine TNF-was reduced. These effects could be related to the inhibition of MAPK p38 (∼60%) activation by LEAS. In conclusion, our results showed that LEAS inhibits theinternalization into bMECs and modulates the IIR, which indicates that avocado is a source of metabolites for control of mastitis pathogens.