title: Immune modulatory effects of Aloe arborescens extract on the piscine SAF-1 cell line.
abstract: The pharmacological potential of Aloe arborescens Miller leaf components was investigated, with special attention deserved to immune modulatory effects on the Sparus aurata fibroblast cell line SAF-1. The cells were treated with Aloe extract at different concentrations (1.2-4.8 mg ml(-1)) for various times (24-72 h). The lowest concentration did not provoke any cellular damage observable by SEM and did not affect ATP amounts after 24 and 48 h, while even induced a significant increase over controls after 72 h. We next examined the transcription kinetics of different immune-related genes (IL-1β, TGF-β, TNF-α, COX-2, IFN-I, Mx and MHCI-α) in SAF-1 cells stimulated with LPS or poly I:C. The Aloe extract (1.2 mg ml(-1)) acted as a powerful immune stimulant in LPS- or poly I:C-activated SAF-1 cells, inducing a synergic effect on interconnected genes that are expected to be involved in different aspects of the immune responses. These reports provide a new perspective for the use of A. arborescens to prevent or oppose bacterial and viral fish diseases and to face, as an alternative strategy based on natural plant extracts, the growing unwillingness to rely upon standard solutions involving antibiotics or antimicrobial chemicals.
authors.affiliation: Dep. for Innovation in Biological, Agro-food and Forest systems, Tuscia University, Viterbo, Italy. picchietti@unitus.it
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Picchietti
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bernini
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Belardinelli
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ovidi
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Taddei
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Guerra
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Abelli
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Fausto
mesh_terms: D000504:Aloe / Q000737:chemistry*; D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D011070:Poly I-C / Q000494:pharmacology; D021541:Sea Bream / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D010936:Plant Extracts; D011070:Poly I-C