The effect of allicin on peripheral blood cytokines in immunosuppressed mice infected with candida albicans

Abstract

Objective To investigate the effect of allicin on peripheral blood cytokines in immunosuppressed mice infected with candida albicans. Methods 60 BALB/c mice were immunosuppressed through intraperitoneally injected with cyclophosphamide 200 mg/kg, then inoculation of 2×107/ml candida albicans in the tail vein for infection. Immunosuppressive mice infected with candida albicans were randomly divided into immunosuppressive group, allicin treatment group, and normal saline control group. The allicin treatment group was given allicin, and the normal saline control group was given the same amount of normal saline for 7 days. Peripheral blood serum of normal mice, immunosuppressed mice, allicin treatment mice, and control mice were collected through removing the eyeball. The levels of Th1 type cytokines such as IL-2 and IFN-γ, and Th2 type cytokines such as IL-4 and IL-10 were measured by ELISA. Results Compared with normal mice, the levels of IL-2, IFN-γ, IL-4, and IL-10 in the peripheral blood of the immunosuppressive group and the normal saline control group decreased, with statistically significant differences (P 0.05). The levels of IL-4 and IL-10 in peripheral blood of allicin treatment group were significantly higher than the levels of IL-2 and IFN-γ (P<0.05). Conclusion Allicin can increase the level of peripheral blood cytokines in immunosuppressed mice infected with candida albicans, and may exert certain antifungal infection effects through this cytokine network. Key words: Allicin; Candida albicans; Immunosuppression; Mice; Cytokine