title: The role of zinc on anti-Newcastle disease virus specific antibody response and agranulocytes count in rabbits treated with methotrexate and prednisolone.
abstract: Zinc (Zn) plays a pivotal role in highly proliferative tissues including immune system. The long-term therapy of neoplastic and autoimmune disorders is associated with immunosuppression and myleosuppression. In the current study role of Zn on anti-Newcastle disease virus response and agranulocytes count of methotrexate and prednisolone treated rabbits. Thirty six healthy rabbits were randomly segregated into six groups (group I to VI) each containing six rabbits. Oil based Newcastle disease virus (NDV) vaccine was administered subcutaneously to rabbits of all the groups at day 0 and 21  and after one week, all the groups received Zn, (Zn + prednisolone), prednisolone, (Zn + methotrexate) methotrexate orally from day 7 to day 21, except the control. The serum antibody titer, total and differential leukocyte count were measured weekly for 6 weeks. The administration of zinc in combination with methotrexate showed same antibody titer as that of the control suggesting that Zn has ability to counteract the methotrexate-induced immunosuppression. However, Zn did not show any significant impact in combination with prednisolone (p<0.05). The results of the present study indicate that co-administration of Zn and methotrexate is beneficial in the activity of immune system.
authors.affiliation: Lahore College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan. tiopupharma@yahoo.co.uk
authors.forename: Muhammad Khalid
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Tipu
authors.forename: Uzma
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Saleem
authors.forename: Khalid
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hussain
authors.forename: Khushi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Muhammad
authors.forename: Furqan Khurshid
authors.initials: FK
authors.lastname: Hashmi
authors.forename: Muhammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Islam
authors.forename: Bashir
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ahmad
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D006098:Granulocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009522:Newcastle disease virus / Q000276:immunology*; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011817:Rabbits; D013997:Time Factors; D014765:Viral Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*; D015032:Zinc / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D014765:Viral Vaccines; D011239:Prednisolone; D015032:Zinc; D008727:Methotrexate