Balanced TH1 and TH2 immunopotentiating effects of silicates partly containing nanoparticles present in calcined serpentine.
Calcined Serpentine (CS) is used in various formulations of alternative systems of medicine as a tonic to vital organs and as an anti-inflammatory agent. The process of calcination or incineration is believed to render non-toxic, gently absorbable, adaptable and digestible properties to the mineral compounds. The present study characterized CS and also evaluated its immunostimulatory potential. CS was characterized by using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray powder diffraction, atomic absorption spectroscopy and CHNS analysis. The characterized CS was further evaluated for its immunomodulatory potential in Swiss mice. X-Ray diffraction analysis revealed that the CS contained silicates of magnesium, calcium and iron as major minerals. Elemental composition and heavy metal analyses showed a presence of various inorganic elements/heavy metals, albeit at levels well below daily permissive intake values. TEM analysis of the test CS revealed a presence of nano particles with an average size of 10-20 nm (≈ 26% of total material). Oral administration of CS to mice at 50, 75, 100 or 200 μg/kg body weight for 10 days led to enhanced levels of total IgG, IgG1, IgG2a and IgG2b in ovalbumin-immunized mice as well as ex vivo lymphocyte proliferation and levels of TH1 (IL-2, IFNγ) and TH2 (IL-4, IL-10) cytokines produced by their cultured splenocytes. Similarly, CS treatment resulted in enhanced delayed-type hypersensitivity responses in GRBC-primed hosts. CS also activated host peritoneal macrophages, as indicated by increases in phagocytic activity and in TLR-2, CD80 and CD86 expression. The CS did not affect liver, kidney and spleen histology. Taken together, the results indicated that absorbed CS was stimulatory of host cell-mediated immune responses. It is hypothesized for now that the immunomodulatory effect of CS may have been due, in part, to a presence of nanoparticles on the CS; further study is required to validate this viewpoint.
a Department of Biochemistry , Jamia Hamdard (Hamdard University) , Hamdard Nagar , New Delhi , India.
Asif
A
Elahi
a Department of Biochemistry , Jamia Hamdard (Hamdard University) , Hamdard Nagar , New Delhi , India.
Yadhu
Y
Sharma
a Department of Biochemistry , Jamia Hamdard (Hamdard University) , Hamdard Nagar , New Delhi , India.
Samina
S
Bashir
a Department of Biochemistry , Jamia Hamdard (Hamdard University) , Hamdard Nagar , New Delhi , India.
Farah
F
Khan
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D017632:Asbestos, Serpentine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D000529:Complementary Therapies; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D006968:Hypersensitivity, Delayed; D056724:Immunity, Humoral; D007114:Immunization; D017737:Macrophages, Peritoneal / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry; D017640:Silicates / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
D017632:Asbestos, Serpentine; D016207:Cytokines; D017640:Silicates
CD80/CD86; IgG1; IgG2a; IgG2b antibodies; TH1/TH2 cytokines; TLR-2