Objective. Chebulagic acid (CHE) from the immature seeds of Terminalia chebula was identified from a natural product library as a potent suppressor of T cell activity. This study examined the effectiveness of CHE against the onset and progression of collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) in mice.Methods. Arthritis was induced in DBA/1J mice by subcutaneous immunization with bovine type II collagen on days 0 and 21. CHE was administered intraperitoneally for 3 weeks, either as prophylaxis (10 or 20 mg/kg) before disease onset or as therapy (20 mg/kg) after disease onset. Clinical scores, serum antibody levels, and cytokines were measured, and flow cytometric analysis and real-time reverse transcriptionpolymerase chain reaction were performed to evaluate the knee joints of mice with CIA.Results. In both the prophylactic and therapeutic CHE dosing models, all clinical scores, serum levels of total and anticollagen IgG, and levels of interleukin-10 (IL-10) and IL-6 were reduced, while serum levels of transforming growth factor  (TGF) were markedly elevated. The number of granulocytes was reduced, but the proportion of CD4؉,CD25؉ T cells was greater in the knee joints of CHE-treated CIA mice. Expression of Foxp3 and TGF messenger RNA was also augmented significantly in the knee joints of CHE-treated CIA mice in the therapeutic dosing model.Conclusion. CHE significantly suppressed the onset and progression of CIA in mice. Immune suppression via the induction of TGF and CD4؉,CD25؉ T cells may represent a new strategy in the development of therapies for managing rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory diseases.
Antibiotics continue to be used as growth promoters in the poultry industry. Honeybee
(Apis melifera) venom (HBV) possesses a number of beneficial biological
activities, particularly for regulating the immune system. The aim of the present study
was to evaluate the immunoprophylactic effects of HBV against Salmonella
Gallinarum in broiler chicks as an initial step towards developing eco-friendly
alternatives to reduce antibiotic use. HBV was administered using a spray technique. HBV
improved body weight gain, particularly in the presence of infection. Moreover, HBV
enhanced antibody production activity against formalin-killed S.
Gallinarum. The CD4+:CD8+ T lymphocyte ratio, relative mRNA
expression levels of interleukin-18 and interferon-γ, and serum lysozyme activity also
increased following HBV administration before the infection period as well as during
infection. HBV reinforced bacterial clearance and increased survivability against
S. Gallinarum. Corresponding pathological analyses demonstrated that
the HBV-sprayed group displayed mild and less severe abnormal changes compared with those
in the control group. It was presumed that the prophylactic effects of HBV against
S. Gallinarum were associated with its non-specific immune response
stimulating activity. Thus, HBV may provide an alternative to reduce antibiotic use in the
poultry industry.
Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) is a chronic and immunosuppressive viral disease that is responsible for substantial economic losses for the swine industry. Honeybee venom (HBV) is known to possess several beneficial biological properties, particularly, immunomodulatory effects. Therefore, this study aimed at evaluating the effects of HBV on the immune response and viral clearance during the early stage of infection with porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) in pigs. HBV was administered via three routes of nasal, neck, and rectal and then the pigs were inoculated with PRRSV intranasally. The CD4+/CD8+ cell ratio and levels of interferon (IFN)-γ and interleukin (IL)-12 were significantly increased in the HBV-administered healthy pigs via nasal and rectal administration. In experimentally PRRSV-challenged pigs with virus, the viral genome load in the serum, lung, bronchial lymph nodes and tonsil was significantly decreased, as was the severity of interstitial pneumonia, in the nasal and rectal administration group. Furthermore, the levels of Th1 cytokines (IFN-γ and IL-12) were significantly increased, along with up-regulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and IL-1β) with HBV administration. Thus, HBV administration—especially via the nasal or rectal route—could be a suitable strategy for immune enhancement and prevention of PRRSV infection in pigs.
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