Pregnancy outcomes following the administration of high doses of dexamethasone in early pregnancy / 대한생식의학회지

OBJECTIVE: In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the effects of high doses of dexamethasone (DEX) in early pregnancy on pregnancy outcomes. METHODS: Pregnant BALB/c mice were treated with high-dose DEX in the experimental group or saline in the control group on gestational days (GDs) 0.5 to 4.5. Pregnant mice were sacrificed on GDs 7.5, 13.5, or 18.5 and their peripheral blood, placentas, fetuses, and uterine tissue were collected. Decidual and placenta cell supernatants were examined to evaluate the effect of DEX on the proliferation of mononuclear cells, the quantity of uterine macrophages and uterine natural killer (uNK) cells, and levels of progesterone and 17β-estradiol, as determined by an 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazole-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay, immunohistochemistry, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. We also were measured fetal and placental growth parameters on GD 18.5. RESULTS: We found that high doses of DEX were associated with an increased abortion rate, enhancement of the immunosuppressive effect of the decidua, alterations in placental growth parameters, decreased progesterone and 17β-estradiol levels, and a reduced frequency of macrophages and uNK cells. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that the high-dose administration of DEX during early pregnancy negatively affected pregnancy outcomes.

Effect of cell wall, cytoplasmic fraction and killed-Candida albicans on nitric oxide production by peritoneal macrophages from BALB/c mice

The fractions of Candida albicans have been used as an immunomodulator. The present work assessed the effect of different fractions of C. albicans on nitric oxide [NO] production by mice peritoneal macrophages. Cell wall and cytoplasmic fractions of C. albicans ATCC 10321 strain were extracted. Mice peritoneal macrophages were purified and cultured. Different concentrations of both fractions and also killed C. albicans cells were used for macrophages stimulation and evaluation of NO production. NO amount was detected in culture supernatants of macrophages by Griess reagent. Also, MTT assay was performed to assess the viability of macrophages. The results elucidated that suppressive effect of cell wall proteins on NO release was significant at the dose of 100 micro g/ml [P=0.01], while cytoplasmic fraction increased NO amount at the dose of 1 micro g/ml compared to the control group [P=0.003]. Augmentation of NO production was statistically significant at 200 killed C. albicans per well [P=0.006]. According to our findings, cytoplasmic fractions and killed C. albicans have a positive effect on NO production by peritoneal macrophages, while cell wall fractions did not. Therefore, it is proposed that C. albicans fractions can be studied more as inflammation modulators

14kDa protein molecule isolated from garlic suppresses indoleamine 2, 3-dioxygenase metabolites in mononuclear cells in vitro

A wide range of biological activities of garlic in vitro and in vivo have been verified including its antioxidant, antitumor and anti-inflammatory effects. Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase [IDO] is an enzyme widely distributed in mammals and is inducible preferentially by IFN-?. IDO degrades the essential amino acid tryptophan to form N-formyl kynurenine. In the present in vitro study, the modulatory effect of 14kDa molecule isolated from garlic on IDO induction was tested. Cultures of mononuclear cells were exposed to 14kDa garlic fraction. Then, their proliferation responses and IDO metabolites were measured. A significant down-regulatory effect of garlic on IDO activity was found and also the proliferation responses of mononuclear cells increased. If these results are verified in vivo, an explanation will be provided on how garlic may interfere in IDO induction, which paves the way for elucidating its specific therapeutic effect in preventing tumor progress