Swainsonine stimulates bone marrow cell proliferation and differentiation in different strains of inbred mice.

Abstract

The immunomodulatory alkaloid swainsonine (8alphabeta-indolizidine-1alpha,2alpha,8beta-triol) has potential for overcoming the bone marrow suppressive effects of cancer chemotherapeutic drugs and radiation. The effect of swainsonine on bone marrow cellularity was evaluated in four different strains (C57BL/6; C3H-HEN; Balb/C and DBA-2 mice) of inbred mice subjected to multiple doses of the alkaloid. Swainsonine treatment stimulated bone marrow cell proliferation in all strains of mice. Examination of the peripheral blood did not reveal any increase in total leukocyte count. In vitro assessment of total colony-forming unit (CFU) capacity of bone marrow cells showed a two- to eight-fold increase in swainsonine treated mice of different strains compared to their corresponding controls given sham injections of physiological saline. Swainsonine induced increase in CFU capacity of bone marrow cells should find clinical application in cancer treatment with chemotherapeutic agents and radiation.

• Authors: O A Oredipe, Paulette M Furbert-Harris, William R Green, S L White, K Olden, Ibrahim Laniyan, Debra Parish-Gause, Theresa Vaughn, Walter M Griffin, Rajagopalan Sridhar
• Journal: Pharmacological research (Pharmacol Res) Vol. 47 Issue 1 Pg. 69-74 (Jan 2003) ISSN: 1043-6618 [Print] Netherlands
• PMID: 12526864 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.)

Chemical References

• Swainsonine

Topics

• Animals
• Bone Marrow Cells (cytology, drug effects, physiology)
• Cell Differentiation (drug effects, physiology)
• Cell Division (drug effects, physiology)
• Female
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred BALB C
• Mice, Inbred C3H
• Mice, Inbred C57BL
• Mice, Inbred DBA
• Mice, Inbred Strains
• Swainsonine (pharmacology)