title: The effect of propolis on CCL5 and IFN-γ expression by peripheral blood mononuclear cells from leishmaniasis patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Mucocutaneous leishmaniasis is associated with a strong Th1 immune response to Leishmania, which modulates chemokines and their receptors expression, affecting their migratory capacity. There are no antileishmanial vaccines available and chemotherapy still relies on the potentially toxic pentavalent antimonials. Propolis is a bee product with immunomodulatory and antiparasite activities, and researchers have been attracted to its potential for the development of new drugs. This work investigated the effects of propolis on CCL5 and IFN-γ expression by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) in order to evaluate a possible immunomodulatory action of propolis in patients with leishmaniasis compared to healthy control subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  PBMC were incubated in the absence or presence of propolis and the evaluation of a possible cytotoxicity of propolis was carried out using MTT assay. The expression level of CCL5 and IFN-γ was determined by real-time PCR.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our data indicated that propolis modulates the immune response of leishmaniasis patients in vitro, affecting CCL5 and IFN-γ expression by PBMC.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Data suggested that propolis drives an anti-inflammatory response depending on concentration. Although propolis is a potential source of new and selective drugs for the treatment of leishmaniasis, its usefulness in the therapeutics should be further investigated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathological Sciences, UEL, Londrina, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marla Karine
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Amarante
authors.forename: Maria Angélica Ehara
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: Ivete
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Conchon-Costa
authors.forename: Leandra Lopes
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Fiori
authors.forename: Julie Massayo Maeda
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Oda
authors.forename: Michelle Cristiane
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Búfalo
authors.forename: José Maurício
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Sforcin
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001938:Brazil; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D018946:Chemokine CCL5 / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism*; D016773:Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / Q000276:immunology*; D007897:Leishmaniasis, Mucocutaneous / Q000276:immunology*; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D011429:Propolis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D018946:Chemokine CCL5; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D011429:Propolis