[Effect of interleukin -27 on recovery from experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in C57BL/6 mice]

Multiple sclerosis and its murine model, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis [EAE], are chronic inflammatory demyelinating diseases of CNS. This study aimed to examine the effects of IL-27coding plasmid on disease status and certain immunological parameters in EAE-affected C57BL/6 mice. IL-27 gene was subcloned in P240 plasmid. The recombinant P240-mIL27 and P240 plasmids were injected two times, each time 200 micrograms, to test and control EAE mice, respectively. The clinical signs of the treated mice were evaluated daily and scored according to a standard method. One week after the last injection, all mice were sacrificed. The ELISA and MTT tests were performed to evaluate the production of IL-4, IFN-? and IL-17 from and proliferative response of splenocytes against specific antigen challenge, respectively. Furthermore, to demonstrate the immune cells infiltration, histopathological exam was performed on the brainstem of mice. The P240-mIL27 plasmid could significantly improve clinical course of EAE in the test group. Also in this group, the level of IL-4 was greater than that in the control group, while the levels of IFN-? and IL-17 were lower than those of the control group. In MTT test, the splenocytes of the test group showed a significantly less proliferative response than the control group. Finally, less infiltration of immune cells was seen in the brainstem of EAE mice treated with P240-mIL27 plasmid. IL-27 by shifting the immune responses from inflammatory Th1/Th17 towards anti-inflammatory Th2-type responses could be a suitable candidate for the treatment of inflammatory diseases such as MS

immunomedulatory effect of Ganoderma Lucidum polysachharide extract on BALB/c peritoneal macrophage function

Ganoderma Lucidum has been regarded as a natural immunomodulator. The exact carbohydrate epitope responsible for the immunomodulatory activity and its receptor have not been identified, but it seems likely that it is the receptor CR3 [complement receptor 3] which can bind to beta-glucan polysachharide. Because glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase [G6PD] activity has a critical role in the regulation of macrophage functions such as nitric oxide [NO] production, we assessed the immunomodulatory effect of GL-PS in BALB/c peritoneal macrophages. For this purpose, BALB/c mice peritoneal macrophages were isolated and treated with various concentrations of GL-PS [0.001, 0.01, 0.1, 1, 10, 100 microg/ml]. After 24 hours, the viability of treated macrophages was measured by MTT assay at 540 nm and the effective dose was determined to be 0.1 microg/ml. Then, macrophages were sonicated and special activity of G6PD was measured in the cell extracts by measuring the alterations in NADPH absorption at 339nm and protein concentration by Bradford method. Also, NO production was determined by use of Griess-reagent after 18 hours. Results of this study showed that 0.1 microg/ ml of GL-PS had the maximal effect on cell viability [stimulation Index] in comparison to other doses [0.05