Evaluation of infection course in mice induced by L. major in presence of positively charged liposomes containing CpG ODN

An inoculation of virulent Leishmania major is known as leishmanization [LZ] which is proven to be the most effective control measure against Cutaneous Leishmaniasis [CL]. However, using LZ is restricted due to various side effects such as uncontrolled lesion development. In the present research, the efficacy of cationic nanoliposomes containing CpG oligodeoxynucleotides [CpG ODN] as an improved adjuvant delivery system was studied to diminish the lesion development and infection course of L. major after inoculation into the mice. BALB/c mice were inoculated subcutaneously [SC] with L. major plus empty DSPC, DSPC [CpG ODN], DSPC [Non CpG ODN], empty DMPC, DMPC [CpG ODN], DMPC [Non CpG ODN] or HEPES buffer. The results showed that group of mice received DMPC [CpG ODN] nanoliposomes developed a significantly smaller lesion and showed minimum number of L. major in the spleen and draining lymph nodes. In addition, using DMPC [CpG ODN] liposomes resulted in a Th1 type of immune response with a preponderance of IgG2a isotype which is concurrent with the production of DMPC [CpG] induced IFN-gamma in the spleen of the mice. Taken together, the results suggested that immune modulation using DMPC [CpG ODN] nanoliposomes might be a practical approach to improve the safety of LZ

differences in the relaxant effects of different fractions of rosa damascena on guinea pig tracheal smooth muscle

In the present study, the differences in the relaxant effects of aqueous, ethyl acetate and n-butanol fractions of Rosa damascena on tracheal smooth muscle of guinea pigs were examined. The relaxant effects of three cumulative concentrations of each fraction [0.1, 0.2 and 0.4 g%] in comparison with saline and three cumulative concentrations of theophylline [0.1, 0.2, and 0.4 mM] were examined on precontracted tracheal chains of guinea pig by 60 mM KCl [group 1, n=5] and 10 micro M methacholine [group 2, n=8]. In group 1, all concentrations of theophylline, ethyl acetate fraction and two final concentrations of n-butanol fraction showed significant relaxant effects in comparison with saline [p< 0.05 to P< 0.001]. In group 2, all concentrations of theophylline, ethyl acetate and aqueous fractions showed concentration dependent relaxant effects compared to that of saline [p< 0.01 to P< 0.001]. In addition, the effect of ethyl acetate fraction in group 1 was significantly higher than those of theophylline [p< 0.05 to p< 0.001]. However, the effects of other fractions were significantly lower than theophylline in both groups [p< 0.01 to p< 0.001]. There were significant correlations between the relaxant effects and concentrations for theophylline and all fractions [except aqueous fractions in group 1] in both groups. The results showed a potent relaxant effect for ethyl acetate fraction of R. damascena on tracheal smooth muscle comparable to that of theophylline but a relatively weak relaxant effect for aqueous and n-butanol fractions at concentrations used