title: Immunotoxicity induced in mice by subacute exposure to berberine.
abstract: The immunotoxic effects of the isoquinoline alkaloid berberine (BBR) were investigated in Balb/c mice. Here, BBR was administered daily by intraperitoneal injection at doses of 5 and 10 mg/kg for 14 days. Following the exposure, host spleen weight, cellularity and histopathology, as well as delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) responses, hemagglutination titers (HA), spleen cell subtype profiles, splenocyte cytokine production and lymphocyte proliferation were studied in all of the test groups of animals. The results showed that the high dose of BBR (10 mg/kg) could suppress both cellular and humoral immune functions in the treated hosts. BBR at 5 mg/kg only appeared to impact on DTH responses and lymphoproliferation. Based on the finding here, it would seem that BBR has effective immunosuppressive properties. Mechanistic studies are required to determine exactly how this material is acting to impart many of the immunotoxic effects demonstrated here. At the same time, further research should also be performed on BBR to further develop its potential use as an effective immunosuppressant or co-adjuvant for the treatment of diseases caused by an exaggerated or unwanted immune response.
authors.affiliation: a Immunology Research Center, Department of Immunology and Allergy, School of Medicine .
authors.forename: Mahmoud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mahmoudi
authors.affiliation: b Immunology Research Center, Bu-Ali Research Institute .
authors.forename: Shahrzad
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zamani Taghizadeh Rabe
authors.affiliation: c Medical Toxicology Research Center, School of Medicine .
authors.forename: Mahdi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Balali-Mood
authors.affiliation: d Medical Toxicology Research Center and Pharmacy School , and.
authors.forename: Gholamreza
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Karimi
authors.affiliation: e Cancer Research Center, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences , Mashhad , Iran.
authors.forename: Bahram
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Memar
authors.affiliation: b Immunology Research Center, Bu-Ali Research Institute .
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rahnama
authors.affiliation: b Immunology Research Center, Bu-Ali Research Institute .
authors.forename: Nafiseh
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tabasi
authors.affiliation: b Immunology Research Center, Bu-Ali Research Institute .
authors.forename: Mahdieh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Khazaee
authors.affiliation: c Medical Toxicology Research Center, School of Medicine .
authors.forename: Bamdad
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Riahi-Zanjani
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001599:Berberine / Q000633:toxicity*; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006968:Hypersensitivity, Delayed / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D056724:Immunity, Humoral / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D001599:Berberine
keywords: Berberine; cellular immunity; humoral immunity; immunotoxicity