title: Immunomodulatory/inflammatory effects of geopropolis produced by Melipona fasciculata Smith in combination with doxorubicin on THP-1 cells.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Geopropolis (GEO) in combination with doxorubicin (DOX) reduced HEp-2 cells viability compared to GEO and DOX alone. A possible effect of this combination on the innate immunity could take place, and its effects were analysed on THP-1 cell - a human leukaemia monocytic cell line used as a model to study monocyte activity and macrophage activity, assessing cell viability, expression of cell markers and cytokine production.
  
  
  METHODS
  THP-1 cells were incubated with GEO, DOX and their combination. Cell viability was assessed by MTT assay, cell markers expression by flow cytometry and cytokine production by ELISA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  GEO + DOX did not affect cell viability. GEO alone or in combination increased TLR-4 and CD80 but not HLA-DR and TLR-2 expression. GEO stimulated TNF-α production while DOX alone or in combination did not affect it. GEO alone or in combination inhibited IL-6 production.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  GEO exerted a pro-inflammatory profile by increasing TLR-4 and CD80 expression and TNF-α production, favouring the activation of the immune/inflammatory response. GEO + DOX did not affect cell viability and presented an immunomodulatory action. Lower concentrations of DOX combined to GEO could be used in cancer patients, avoiding side effects and benefiting from the biological properties of GEO.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Biosciences Institute, UNESP, Botucatu, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Lucas Pires Garcia
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Biosciences Institute, UNESP, Botucatu, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fernanda Lopes
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Conte
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Biosciences Institute, UNESP, Botucatu, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Eliza de Oliveira
authors.initials: EO
authors.lastname: Cardoso
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Biosciences Institute, UNESP, Botucatu, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Bruno José
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Conti
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Biosciences Institute, UNESP, Botucatu, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Karina Basso
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Santiago
authors.affiliation: Botucatu Blood Center, School of Medicine, UNESP, Botucatu, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marjorie de Assis
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Golim
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Pharmacy, Center for Neurosciences and Cellular Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: Maria Teresa
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9846-6754
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Cruz
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Biosciences Institute, UNESP, Botucatu, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: José Maurício
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Sforcin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D018122:B7-1 Antigen; D001516:Bees; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D009000:Monocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D011429:Propolis / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D013997:Time Factors; D051195:Toll-Like Receptor 2 / Q000378:metabolism; D051197:Toll-Like Receptor 4 / Q000378:metabolism; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D018122:B7-1 Antigen; D015415:Biomarkers; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; C508600:IL6 protein, human; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D015850:Interleukin-6; C495342:TLR2 protein, human; C495345:TLR4 protein, human; D051195:Toll-Like Receptor 2; D051197:Toll-Like Receptor 4; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D004317:Doxorubicin; D011429:Propolis
keywords: THP-1 cells; cell markers; chemotherapeutic agent; geopropolis; immunomodulation