title: Application of standardized mistletoe extracts augment immune response and down regulates metastatic organ colonization in murine models.
abstract: The immunomodulatory and antimetastatic activity of standardized aqueous mistletoe extracts from plants grown on fir trees (ME-A) and pine trees (ME-P) were evaluated in BALB/c-mice. Regular subcutaneous (s.c.) and intraperitoneal (i.p.) applications (three times per week for 14 consecutive days; 5 and 50 microg per injection and mouse) upregulated thymus weight and peripheral blood leukocyte counts in tumor bearing mice. To check the influence of ME-A and ME-P treatment on growth of experimental metastases, RAW 117 H 10 lymphosarcoma cells and L-1 sarcoma cells were intravenously inoculated into BALB/c-mice to establish liver and lung colonization. ME-A and ME-P were regularly administered starting 24 h after tumor cell challenge. Organ colonization was investigated on day 14 after tumor cell inoculation and demonstrated statistically significant (P<0.05) reductions of experimental liver and lung metastases for ME-A and ME-P treated mice.
authors.affiliation: Infection and Immunity, Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Edinburgh, Teviot Place, Edinburgh, UK.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Braun
authors.forename: H L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Ko
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Schierholz
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Weir
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Blackwell
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Beuth
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D014784:Mistletoe / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D009374:Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010946:Plants, Medicinal
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic