Presence of Toll Like Receptor-2 in spleen, lymph node and thymus of Swiss albino mice and its modulation by Staphylococcus aureus and bacterial lipopolysaccharide.

Toll-like receptors (TLR) are a family of pattern recognition receptors identifying pathogen associated molecular patterns (PAMPs). They play a critical role in the innate immune response during the initial interaction between the infecting microorganism and phagocytic cells. Here, we verified the presence of TLR-2 in spleen, lymph node and thymus of Swiss albino mice and their modulation after infection with Staphylococcus aureus and Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge. It was seen that TLR-2 gene transcribed to its respective mRNA on S. aureus infection, in thymus, spleen and lymph node of mice but their levels and mode of expression varied. When challenged with LPS no prominent changes in the expression of TLR-2 receptor was observed but its expression increased gradually with time in the thymus, spleen and lymph node of S. aureus infected mice. TLR-2 expression was also found enhanced in infected splenic macrophages. By studying the serum cytokine profile the functionality of the receptor was measured. The results indicate the presence of TLR-2 in thymus, spleen and lymph node of Swiss albino strain of mice and that they are modulated by S. aureus.

Supporting the immune system through functional modulation of carbon tetrachloride intoxicated splenic macrophages by administering Tinospora cordifolia.

The suppression of immune system leads to the development of several chronic illnesses; in replying to this the available allopathic system of medicine is provided with limited tools for treatment and prevention. In this context, the present investigation focuses on immunostimulant properties of an aqueous extract of Tinospora cordifolia in splenic macrophages isolated from carbon tetrachloride induced immunosuppressive mice. Our results suggested that carbon tetra chloride intoxication (0.5ml/Kg body weight) significantly altered the functional status like morphology, cell adhesion, phagocytosis, myeloperoxidase (MPO) release, nitric oxide (NO) release, DNA fragmentation and killing capacity of splenic macrophages. However administration of aqueous fraction of Tinospora cordifolia stem parts at a dose of 40 mg/kg body weight (in vivo) in CCl4 intoxicated male albino mice ameliorated the effect of CCl4, as was evident from the scanning electron micrographs, percentage of morphologically altered macrophages, phagocytosis activity, cell adhesion, MPO release, NO release, DNA fragmentation and intracellular killing capacity. Thus, it has been coclude that bioactive compounds presents in polar fractions of Tinospora cordifolia were accountable for boosting the immune system.