The Effect of Transfer Factor as Immunoprotective in Mice Challenged with <i>Mycobacteriu</i>m <i>tuberculosis</i>

Abstract

Background: Transfer Factor (TF) is an immune modulator which stimulates the cellular arm of the immune system (killer lymphocytes), activates immune cytokine synthesis and regulates immune function [1]. TF is very effective in those diseases in which CMI plays a relevant role in protection and control of the disease, such as intracellular bacterial diseases (tuberculosis) [2]. TF are low molecular weight products from immune cells that are able to transmit the ability to express delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) and cell mediated immunity (CMI) from sensitized donors to non immune recipients [3]. Objectives: The aim of this experimental study is to determine the protective efficacy of transfer factor (TF) as immunotprotective for mice. Materials and methods: A total number of 82 mice were examined for their immunopotency and protective efficacy of Transfer factor (TF) against challenge dose of M. tuberculosis (107 CFU). A number of 20 mice were immunized with the attenuated strain of M. bovis, Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG). After 21 days of BCG spleens of 10 tuberculous mice were removed aseptically for the preparation of TF. To evaluate the effect of TF 3 groups of inbred BALB/c male mice were injected with TF and challenged with virulent M. tuberculosis, All mice with TF were tested for tuberculin skin test (TST) so as to determine susceptibility and resistance against tuberculosis, susceptible groups of mice were challenged with virulent M. tuberculosis.Followed by study of humoral response by immunization of a group of mice with immune sera and challenged with M. tuberculosis H37Rv strain. Followed by an experiment of group A and B for the susceptibility and resistance of the strains of mice. Results: After three weeks of observations the mice of experiment were tested for tuberculin skin test and the results were positive. Effectiveness determination of TF as protective efficacy was (83.3%). Humoral immunity response against M. tuberculosis showed negative reaction hence mortality rate was 100%, group B mice were resistant for BCG (Swiss white strain). Conclusions: The results indicated that administration of murine transfer factor (mTF) extracted and prepared from spleen of animal model (mice) as immunoprotective for challenged mice of M. tuberculosis (H37Rv) showed a better results enhanced immune response in respect to delayed type hypersensitivity, survival rate and mortality rate suggesting that efficacy of mTF as immunotherapy for tuberculosis.