Augmentation of humoral and cell mediated immune responses by Thujone.

Abstract

Thujone, a naturally occurring monoterpene, was found to enhance the total WBC count, bone marrow cellularity, number of α-esterase positive cells, number of plaque forming cells in spleen and circulating antibody titer in Balb/c mice (1mg/kg body weight, intraperitoneally for 5 days). Thujone treatment enhanced proliferation of splenocytes and thymocytes, both in the presence and absence of specific mitogens. Administration of Thujone was found to stimulate the cell-mediated immunological response in normal and tumor bearing Balb/c mice. A significant enhancement in natural killer (NK) cell mediated cytotoxicity, antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) and antibody-dependent complement mediated cytotoxicity (ACC) in both normal as well as tumor-bearing animals was observed after the administration of Thujone. Production of cytokines such as IL-2 and IFN-γ was significantly enhanced by the administration of Thujone. The stimulatory effect of Thujone on cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) generation was determined by Winn's neutralization assay using CTL sensitive EL4 thymoma cells. Thujone treatment showed a significant increase in CTL production in both the in vivo and in vitro models, as indicated by a significant increase in the life span of tumor bearing animals. All these results indicate that administration of Thujone could enhance the immune response of mice. There was a significant reduction in solid tumor development, mediated by the presence of alert immune responses during Thujone administration.

• Authors: K S Siveen, Girija Kuttan
• Journal: International immunopharmacology (Int Immunopharmacol) Vol. 11 Issue 12 Pg. 1967-75 (Dec 2011) ISSN: 1878-1705 [Electronic] Netherlands
• PMID: 21884824 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Antineoplastic Agents
• Bicyclic Monoterpenes
• GABA Antagonists
• Monoterpenes
• Serotonin 5-HT3 Receptor Antagonists
• beta-thujone
• Esterases

Topics

• Animals
• Antibody-Dependent Cell Cytotoxicity (drug effects, immunology)
• Antineoplastic Agents (administration & dosage)
• Bicyclic Monoterpenes
• Bone Marrow Cells (drug effects)
• Carcinoma, Ehrlich Tumor (drug therapy, immunology)
• Cell Line, Tumor
• Esterases (analysis)
• GABA Antagonists (administration & dosage)
• Immunity, Cellular (drug effects)
• Immunity, Humoral (drug effects)
• Leukocyte Count
• Lymphocyte Activation (drug effects, immunology)
• Male
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred BALB C
• Mice, Inbred C57BL
• Monoterpenes (administration & dosage)
• Neoplasms (drug therapy, immunology)
• Serotonin 5-HT3 Receptor Antagonists (administration & dosage)
• Spleen (drug effects, immunology)
• T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic (drug effects, immunology)
• Treatment Outcome