Abstract
BackgroundSwainsonine can cause serious disorders in reproduction of livestock, affecting both corpora lutea and reproductive hormone. The purpose of this study was to investigate the mechanisms of swainsonine about the immunotoxic effects on pregnant mice in vivo.ResultsThe peripheral Th1/Th2 was detected by Ionomycin and phorbol myristate acetate (PMA)-stimulating peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of phase pregnant mice. Relevant cytokines in serum was evaluated after exposed to different dose of swainsonine. Gene expression of IL-1β, IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-4 and IL-10 in PBMC was assessed by real-time PCR. Swainsonine caused vacuolization phenomenon of lutein cells and a dose-effect relationship. The IL-1β, IFN-γ and TNF-α were promoted, but IL-4 and IL-10 were suppressed in serum. Swainsonine significantly increased IL-1β, IFN-γ and TNF-α nuclear translocation and decreased IL-4 and IL-10. Swainsonine resulted in a significant shift of peripheral Th1/Th2 paradigm to Th1.ConclusionsOur data demonstrate that the immunomodulatory of swainsonine disturbed the regular immunologic state of the pregnant mice. This may increase the risk of abortion and probably resulted in serious disorders in reproduction of livestock.
Highlights
Swainsonine can cause serious disorders in reproduction of livestock, affecting both corpora lutea and reproductive hormone
Th1 and Th2 cytokine concentration between five groups at baseline To further examine the effect of different concentration of swainsonine in the inhibition of cytokine production, we examined the expression of cytokine in the peripheral blood by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)
Proinflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α and IL-1β, and the Th1 signature cytokine IFN-γ were significantly increased (p < 0.05) in mice exposed to mice exposed to swainsonine, compared with control group in IL-10 showed inhibitory effect a dose-related manner (Fig. 2a, d, e)
Summary
Swainsonine can cause serious disorders in reproduction of livestock, affecting both corpora lutea and reproductive hormone. Swainsonine, one of the indolizidine alkaloid isolated from locoweeds (including Astragalus spp. and Oxytropis spp.) [1, 2], is the main toxin-resulting in animal locoism which clinical syndrome showed dispirited behavior, insensitivity, abortion, fertility problems, amniotic membrane swelling and even serious vacuolar degeneration of the nerves and the internal organs [3]. Especially neurons and corpus luteum showed vacuolation, because swainsonine disturb mannose metabolism and the production of a mixture of mannose and asparagine polysaccharide [4, 5]. T-helper (Th) cells, as a part of pregnancy immunology, play an important role in modulating immune responses to ensure a successful pregnancy and fetus development [13,14,15]. The decrease of Th1 and increase of Th2 are necessary to protect the fetus without compromising the mother, as Th1 produces an array of inflammatory cytokines
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