Th1/Th2 cytokines' expression and production by propolis-treated mice.
OBJECTIVE
Propolis is a natural product extensively used in food and beverages to improve health and to prevent diseases, showing immunomodulatory properties. The goal of this work was to evaluate the effect of propolis administration over a short-term to mice on Th1 (IL-2 and IFN-gamma) and Th2 (IL-4 and IL-10) cytokines' expression and production.


METHODS
Propolis was administered for 3 days to mice by gavage, spleens were removed and RNA was extracted to assess cytokines' expression by real-time PCR. Supernatants of spleen cell cultures were used for cytokines determination by ELISA.


RESULTS
Propolis administration to mice did not affect IL-2, IL-4 and IL-10 expression and production, while IFN-gamma production was inhibited in the splenocyte cultures stimulated or not by Con A.


CONCLUSIONS
Since IFN-gamma is a pro-inflammatory cytokine, our data suggest that propolis administration over a short-term to mice may be associated with anti-inflammatory effects in vivo, and further assays could check propolis efficiency in inflammatory diseases.
Orsatti
Cláudio Lera
CL
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Biosciences Institute, UNESP, Botucatu, SP, Brazil.
Missima
Fabiane
F
Pagliarone
Ana Carolina
AC
Sforcin
José Maurício
JM
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000276:immunology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D011429:Propolis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D016207:Cytokines; D007376:Interleukin-2; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016753:Interleukin-10; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D011429:Propolis