Effect of bitter melon (Momordica charantia Linn) on level and function of natural killer cells in cervical cancer patients with radiotherapy.

Cervical cancer patients have a defective immune system. There is a decrease of total white blood cell count including lymphocytes and natural killer (NK) cells. NK cells, one type of lymphocytes, play a role to eliminate cancer cells by antibody dependent cell mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) mechanism. Previous studies have shown that P-glycoprotein (170 kDa, transmembrane protein) may be a transporter for cytokine releasing in ADCC mechanism. This study proposed to explore the role of bitter melon intake in cervical cancer patients undergoing normal treatment (radiotherapy). Subjects were divided into three groups: 1) normal control (women 35-55 years, n = 35), 2) patient control (n = 30) and 3) patient treatment (n = 30) groups. Patient control and patient treatment groups were cervical cancer patients (stage II or III) treated with radiotherapy (without or with bitter melon ingestion). Blood samples of patient control and patient treatment groups were analyzed for NK cells percentage and P-glycoprotein level. Bitter melon is a Thai herb. Previous studies have shown that bitter melon can stimulate lymphocyte activity in vitro and in vivo (mouse). The authors hope that bitter melon could stimulate the increase of NK cells percentage and P-glycoprotein level on the membrane in blood samples from cervical cancer patients who ingest bitter melon. The results showed an increased percentage of NK cells in patient control and patient treatment groups. The increase in each group is significant (p < 0.05) when compared with the percentage of NK cells from second and third blood sampling time (after radiation with of without bitter melon intake for 45 and 90 days) with first blood sampling time (before treatment). The results also show a significant decrease of P-glycoprotein level (p < 0.05) in second and third blood sampling times when compared with first blood sampling time of the patient treatment group. There was no significant difference of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) level from first, second and third blood sampling times in patient control group. Bitter melon ingestion did not affect NK cell level but it affected the decrease of P-gp level on NK cell membrane.

Radioprotective effects of Rasayanas.

Oral administration of Rasayanas (indigenous preparations made up of herbal drugs) significantly increased total WBC count, bone marrow cellularity, natural killer cell and antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity in gamma radiation (4 Gy) exposed mice. Also, Rasayanas reduced radiation induced lipid peroxidation in liver. The possible mechanisms of action of Rasayanas could be increased stem cell proliferation and its effect on free radical induced injury produced by radiation.

Supression of antibody dependent cytotoxicity to Trypanosoma cruzi in chronic chagasic mice after treatment with nifurtimox

Los fluoruros, por mecanismos aun no aclarados, estimulan la formación ósea y son, en consecuencia, usados en el trtamiento de las osteoporisis. Desde un punto de vista terapéutico, uno de los efectos más esperados por la ingesta de fluoruro en pacientes osteoporóticos es la disminución en el índice de fracturas. Si bien esto ocurre, observaciones clínicas sugieren que este efecto es menor que el esperado por el aumento de la mas ósea (ej.: la resistencia por unidad de tejido estaría disminuida en el hueso fluorótico). El o los mecanismos por los cuales el fluoruro conduce a las alteraciones mencionadas, todavía no son bien conocidos, pero como el componente inorgánico ha sido extensamente estudiado, hemos llevado a cabo este trabajo con el objeto de caracterizar cuali y cuantitativamente a los GAG y el colágeno de hueso y cartílago de rata, en función de la ingesta prolongada de fluoruro de sodio. Las variaciónes producidas por la ingesta de fluoruro implican un aumento significativo en al concentración de GAG, después de dos meses de tratamiento, debidas a un incremento en las fracciones correspondientes al condroitín-6-sulfato y dermatán sulfato. Esta modificación en el patrón de distribución de los GAG no es atribuible a variaciones en el peso de las moléculas. aunque otros estudios han informado que no se observan efectos sobre la síntesis de colágeno o de DNA, como consecuencia de la ingesta de fluoruro, nuestros resultados muestran que el contenido de OH-Pro se hall aumentado significativamente luego de 2 meses de tratamiento. Los datos presentados sugieren que las alteraciones óseas inducidas por el fluoruro, podrían ser, al menos en parte debidas a cambios en la concentración y distribución de los GAG y el colágeno en la matriz calcificable de hueso y cartílago de rata

Antibody-dependent cellular lysis of 3H-labelled Leishmania donovani by human peripheral blood cells

Células mononucleares e polimorfonucleares, obtidas de sangue humano, foram testadas quanto à capacidade de destruir formas promastigotas de Leishmania donovani, num sistema dependente de anticorpos. A morte do parasita foi verificada pela liberaçäo de -3H--uridina previamente incorporada. Neutrófilos e eosinófilos foram as principais populaçöes celulares responsáveis pelo processo, sendo eficazes, inclusive, quando empregadas em baixa relaçäo célula efetora/célula alvo