ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the efficacy of using crude polysaccharides extracted from cultivated Artemisia rupestris L. ( CARCP) in Xinjiang as an immunologic adjuvant for ovalbumin ( OVA) . Methods The mice were subcutaneously immunized twice with OVA vaccine formulated with CARCP. ELISA assay was performed to measure the levels of IgG, IgG1 and IgG2a antibodies. Flow cytometry analy-sis was performed to detect the percentages of different T lymphocyte subsets ( CD3+CD4+ and CD3+CD8+T cells, CD4+CD44+ and CD8+CD44+T cells) in splenocytes as well as the expression of intracellular cyto-kines ( CD4+IFN-γ, CD8+IFN-γ) and CD4+CD25+Foxp3+Treg cells. Results The levels of IgG, IgG1 and IgG2a antibodies in serum, the percentages of CD3+CD4+, CD3+CD8+, CD4+CD44+ and CD8+CD44+T cells as well as the ratio of CD4+/CD8+T lymphocytes increased significantly in mice immunized with OVA in combination with CARCP (P<0. 05). Moreover, CARCP enhanced the expression of CD4+IFN-γand CD8+IFN-γ( P<0. 05 ) , but inhibited the expression of CD 4+CD 2 5+Foxp 3+Treg cells ( P<0. 05 ) . Conclusion As an adjuvant for OVA, CARCP enhanced the humoral and cellular immune responses, especially the T cell immune responses.