Effect of Shark Liver Oil on Peritoneal Murine Macrophages in Responses to Killed-Candida albicans

Objective(s)Shark Liver Oil (SLO) is an immunomodulator. Macrophages play a key role in host defense against pathogens like fungi. Candida albicans have mechanisms to escape immune system. We determined the effect of killed-Candida on the in vitro viability of macrophages and the effect of SLO on augmentation of this potency.Materials and MethodsPeritoneal macrophages were separated and cultured (3×105/well). At first, the effect of killed-Candida (200 cells/well) on macrophage viability was evaluated, using MTT test. Then, MTT was performed on macrophages stimulated with killed-Candida in the presence of SLO. ResultsKilled-Candida suppressed the ability of MTT reduction and hence macrophages viability (P=0.026), but addition of SLO (100 mg/ml) significantly enhanced cell viability (P=0.00). So, SLO could neutralize the inhibitory effect of Candida.ConclusionSimultaneous with cytotoxic effect of killed-Candida cells on macrophages viability, SLO augment macrophages viability. So, it can be applied in candidiasis as a complement

Effect of Cell Wall, Cytoplasmic Fraction and Killed-Candida albicans on Nitric Oxide Production by Peritoneal Macrophages from BALB/c Mice

Objective(s)The fractions of Candida albicans have been used as an immunomodulator. The present work assessed theeffect of different fractions of C. albicans on nitric oxide (NO) production by mice peritoneal macrophages.Materials and MethodsCell wall and cytoplasmic fractions of C. albicans ATCC 10321 strain were extracted. Mice peritonealmacrophages were purified and cultured. Different concentrations of both fractions and also killedC. albicans cells were used for macrophages stimulation and evaluation of NO production. NO amount wasdetected in culture supernatants of macrophages by Griess reagent. Also, MTT assay was performed toassess the viability of macrophages.ResultsThe results elucidated that suppressive effect of cell wall proteins on NO release was significant at the doseof 100 μg/ml (P=0.01), while cytoplasmic fraction increased NO amount at the dose of 1 μg/ml compared tothe control group (P=0.003). Augmentation of NO production was statistically significant at 200 killedC. albicans per well (P=0.006).ConclusionAccording to our findings, cytoplasmic fractions and killed C. albicans have a positive effect on NOproduction by peritoneal macrophages, while cell wall fractions did not. Therefore, it is proposed thatC. albicans fractions can be studied more as inflammation modulators.Keywords: Candida albicans, Macrophages, Nitric Oxid

Co-administration of GP96 and Her2/neu DNA vaccine in a Her2 breast cancer model

Heat-shock proteins have biochemical and immunological roles in chaperoning/signaling and activation of innate and adaptive immune responses, respectively. Their effect on the immune response is due to a phenomenon known as cross-priming of antigen, in which exogenous antigens are presented via MHC class I by antigen presenting cells. GP96 exerts adjuvant activity with some viral and bacterial antigens when applied in the form of a DNA vaccine. In this study, animals with Her2-expressing tumors were vaccinated by co-administration of GP96+ Her2/neu DNA vaccines. Analyses of the immune response, 2 weeks after the last immunization revealed decreased CD4+ CD25+ Foxp3+ naturally occurring regulatory T cells (Tregs) at the tumor site and increased IFN-γ/IL-4 level. Nevertheless, the graph of tumor size demonstrated a bi-phasic pattern in which partial control of tumor progression initially occurred, but finally its effectiveness was inversely affected by tumor size