title: Cissampelos sympodialis Eichl. leaf extract increases the production of IL-10 by concanavalin-A-treated BALB/c spleen cells.
abstract: The effect of the aqueous fraction of the ethanol extract of Cissampelos sympodialis Eichl. (Menispermaceae) leaves (AFL) on Concanavalin-A (Con-A)-activated spleen cell proliferation and cytokine (IL-2, IL-4, IL-10 and IFN-gamma) secretion were analyzed. BALB/c spleen cells were treated, in vitro, with different concentrations, ranging from 6.25 to 400 microg/ml of AFL either in the presence or the absence of 5 microg/ml of the mitogen Con-A. It was observed that concentrations of the AFL higher then 50 microg/ml were toxic to the cells and concentrations ranging from 6.25 to 50 microg/ml decreased the lymphocyte proliferative response in the presence of the mitogen. This inhibition of mitogen induced proliferation was not reverted by the addition of exogenous recombinant IL-2. The AFL did not significantly inhibit IL-2 secretion. In the presence of AFL there was a reduction in the levels of secreted IFN-gamma while the production of both IL-10 and IL-4 were increased. AFL did not induce the production of any of the cytokines analyzed, in the absence of Con-A. It is suggested that increased IL-10 production down regulates IFN-gamma secretion and T cell proliferative responses.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Fisiologia e Patologia, Universidade Federal da Paraiba, João Pessoa, PB, Brazil.
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Piuvezam
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Peçanha
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Alexander
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Thomas
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil; D002455:Cell Division; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003208:Concanavalin A; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008297:Male; D008519:Medicine, Traditional; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D037121:Plant Lectins; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D007376:Interleukin-2; D010936:Plant Extracts; D037121:Plant Lectins; D003208:Concanavalin A; D016753:Interleukin-10; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma