Abstract
Extracts of Viscum album (VA); a semi-parasitic plant, are frequently used in the complementary therapy of cancer and other immunological disorders. Various reports show that VA modulates immune system and exerts immune-adjuvant activities that might influence tumor regression. Currently, several therapeutic preparations of VA are available and hence an insight into the mechanisms of action of different VA preparations is necessary. In the present study, we performed a comparative study of five different preparations of VA on maturation and activation of human dendritic cells (DCs) and ensuing CD4+ T cell responses. Monocyte-derived human DCs were treated with VA Qu Spez, VA Qu Frf, VA M Spez, VA P and VA A. Among the five VA preparations tested VA Qu Spez, a fermented extract with a high level of lectins, significantly induced DC maturation markers CD83, CD40, HLA-DR and CD86, and secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-6, IL-8, IL-12 and TNF-α. Furthermore, analysis of T cell cytokines in DC-T cell co-culture revealed that VA Qu Spez significantly stimulated IFN-γ secretion without modulating regulatory T cells and other CD4+ T cytokines IL-4, IL-13 and IL-17A. Our study thus delineates differential effects of VA preparations on DC maturation; function and T cell responses.
Highlights
Extracts of Viscum album L. (VA) or European mistletoe, a semi-parasitic plant, are traditionally used for the complementary therapy of cancer and other disorders [1,2,3,4]
dendritic cells (DCs) were analysed for the expression of various maturation-associated surface molecules (Figure 1A–F)
We found that among five VA preparations, only VA Qu Spez was able to significantly enhance the intensity of expression of antigen presenting molecule HLA-DR, co-stimulatory molecules CD86 and CD40 and % of expression of terminal maturation marker CD83
Summary
Extracts of Viscum album L. (VA) or European mistletoe, a semi-parasitic plant, are traditionally used for the complementary therapy of cancer and other disorders [1,2,3,4]. (VA) or European mistletoe, a semi-parasitic plant, are traditionally used for the complementary therapy of cancer and other disorders [1,2,3,4]. Several lines of evidence indicate that VA improves patient survival, reduces the damage caused by conventional cancer therapies and increases patients’ quality of life [1,5,6]. Depending on the concentration used for treatment, mistletoe extracts induce tumor cell death and exert direct necrotic effects or apoptosis [2]. VA preparation is a heterogeneous mixture of several bio-active molecules, but the major components are lectin and viscotoxin. Mistletoe lectin (ML) consists of two subunits, the A chain (29 KDa) and B. Molecules 2016, 21, 912 chain (34 KDa). The A chain is responsible for ribosome inactivation, whereas the B chain helps in binding to terminal galactoside residues on cell membrane [7,8]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
