title: Immunomodulatory effect of caffeic acid phenethyl ester in Balb/c mice.
abstract: Caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE), an the active component of propolis, is known to have anticarcinogenic, antiviral and various biological activities; however, the effect of CAPE on the immunomodulatory activity in vivo remains unknown. We have investigated the effect of CAPE on the immune system in female Balb/c mice. CAPE (0, 5, 10, 20 mg/kg) was given to mice orally for 14 days. Immunomodulatory activity was evaluated by assessment of body and organ weight, lymphocyte blastogenesis, plaque-forming cell (PFC) assay, lymphocyte subpopulation by flow cytometry and cytokine production. Even though the change of body weight was not observed in CAPE-administered group, thymus weight and/or cellularity of thymus and spleen are decreased at the all dose groups of CAPE (5, 10, 20 mg/kg). On the other hand, CAPE had no effect on B lymphocyte proliferation induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) but increased T lymphocyte blastogenesis induced by concanavalin A (Con A) at the dose of 20 mg/kg. In the case of lymphocyte subpopulation, the population of T and B cells was not changed but CD4(+) T cell subsets are significantly increased in exposure to CAPE. The antibody responses to T lymphocyte dependent antigen, sheep red blood cell and keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) were increased more than 10 mg/kg in CAPE-treated group. Likewise, the cytokine, IL-2, IL-4 and IFN-gamma were significantly increased at the dose of 20 mg/kg CAPE group. These results suggest that CAPE could have immunomodulatory effects in vivo.
authors.affiliation: Immunotoxicology Division, Department of Toxicology, National Institute of Toxicological Research, KFDA, Nokbun-Dong, Eunpyung-Gu, Seoul 122-704, South Korea. jaehyun@kfda.go.kr
authors.forename: Jae Hyun
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Jong Kwon
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Hyung Soo
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Seung Tae
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Juno H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Eom
authors.forename: Kyung A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Se Jin
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Soon Young
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Paik
authors.forename: Hye Young
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Oh
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D002109:Caffeic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000378:metabolism; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008934:Mitogens / Q000494:pharmacology; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D010626:Phenylethyl Alcohol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D002109:Caffeic Acids; D016207:Cytokines; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D008934:Mitogens; C055494:caffeic acid phenethyl ester; D010626:Phenylethyl Alcohol