ABSTRACT
Objective:To investigate the immunoregulatory effects of Glycyrrhiza uralensis ethanol extract(GUEE) on the maturation of dendritic cells (DCs) and the adjuvant effect of GUEE on OVA in na?ve BALB/c mice and an ovalbumin (OVA)-induced asthma mouse model. Methods:GUEE was prepared, and the effects of different concentrations of GUEE on the maturation of DCs and the secreted cytokines as well as the effects of GUEE on bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced DC maturation were examined in vitro. The effect of GUEE on the morphology of mouse bone marrow derived DCs was observed using microscopy. Molecular expression levels on the surface of DCs were detected using flow cytometry. The levels of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-6, IL-12, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in the supernatant of DCs cultures were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The maturation status of DCs was detected by flow cytometry by injecting different concentrations of GUEE into the paws of mice and isolating the draining lymph nodes 24 h later. The naive BALB/c mice were co-immunized with OVA, and the changes in regulatory T cells (Treg) were detected by flow cytometry. An OVA-protein-induced mouse asthma model was established to investigate whether GUEE as a tolerogenic adjuvant has an antigen-specific therapeutic effect on asthmatic mice. Pulmonary pathological changes were analyzed by hematoxylin-eosin staining (HE) and PAS staining. OVA-specific antibodies in serum and the frequencies of Tregs, CD4 + IFN-γ + and CD4 + IL-4 + T cells in the spleen were detected by ELISA and flow cytometry, respectively. Results:GUEE suppressed DCs maturation induced by LPS both in vitro and in vivo (all P<0.05), and reduced proinflammatory cytokine production, including IL-1β, IL-6, IL-12 and TNF-α in the absence or presence of LPS (all P<0.05). Moreover, co-immunization with OVA and GUEE increased the amount of Tregs in na?ve BALB/c mice ( P<0.05). In OVA-induced asthmatic mice, OVA and GUEE co-immunization and GUEE alone treatment substantially ameliorated the inflammation of lung tissues, decreased the levels of IgG 1 and the amount of CD4 + IL-4 + T cells, and increased the amount of Tregs (all P<0.05). Conclusions:GUEE alone or as the tolerogenic adjuvant can ameliorate allergic diseases through inhibition of DC maturation and type 2 helper T cell responses and induction of Tregs.
ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the effects of water extracts of Lepidium meyenii walp (LMWE) collected from two different places in Xinjiang on the maturation and function of dendritic cells (DCs) and to evaluate their roles in immunoregulation. Methods Water extracts of LMWE growing in Tashikuergan County (Ta xian) and A La gou of Xinjiang were prepared and named as LMWE-T and LMWE-A,respectively. Bone marrow-derived DCs and splenocytes isolated from C57BL/6 mice were treated with different concentrations of polysaccharide extracts from LMWE-T/A. Effects of LMWE-T/A on the per-centage and apoptosis of DC,expression of co-stimulatory molecules and secretion of cytokines were detected by flow cytometry and ELISA. MTT assay was used to analyze the proliferation of splenocytes. Changes in the functions of DC were evaluated by mixed lymphocyte reaction(MLR). Results LMWE-T/A had no in-fluence on the percentage and viability of DC. Expression of CD40 and CD86,and secretion of TNF-α,IL-12p40 and IFN-γ were significantly increased by LMWE-T/A treatment in a dose-dependent manner. LMWE-T/A treatment enhanced the functions of DCs and also dose-dependently promoted the proliferation of splenocytes. LMWE-A was more effective than LMWE-T in promoting CD86 expression,IFN-γ secretion and splenocyte proliferation. Pretreatment with TAK-242,an inhibitor of Toll-like receptor 4(TLR4),could sig-nificantly inhibit the regulatory effects of LMWE-T/A on CD40 expression and the secretion of TNF-α and IL-12p40. Conclusion This study shows that LMWE could promote the maturation of DC through TLR4 signaling pathway,enhance the functions of DC without side effects on DC survival,and increase the prolif-eration of splenocytes,indicating that LMWE has a potential immunopotentiating effect. LMWE-A has better effects than LMWE-T on immune enhancement.
ABSTRACT
Objective:To analyze the immunocontraceptive efficacy of CZP3 DNA vaccine by electric pulse stimulating and the correlation between antibody level and antifertility. Methods: The mice were immunized with 5, 10, 20 and 50 μg DNA vaccine pcDNA3. 0-CZP3 respectively and were stimulated at leg muscle by electric pulse. Detect the antibody level of each mice group and the highest antibody titer by ELISA. After mated with male mice for three weeks,calculated infertility rate of mice,the average litter size of each immune group and did statistical analysis. Results:Compared with the intramuscular injection alone,the electric pulse stimulation could increase serum antibody titers of mice significantly, the antibody titer of 50 μg group which was stimulated by electric pulse reached 1∶4 000. Moreover,the infertility of the mice increased and the mice average litter size reduced along with the increase of CZP3 antibody level significantly. Statistical analysis showed that the antibody level and the average litter size had a negative correlation. Conclusion:The electric pulse stimulation can improve the immune level and reduce the fertility efficiency of mice significantly,therefore establishes a foundation for further application of CZP3 DNA vaccine in stray dog contraception.