T Cells: Bridge-and-Channel Commute to the White Pulp

Immunopotentiating effects of herb-partitioned moxibustion on the spleens of cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppressed rats

BACKGROUND

To investigate the effec of the herb-partitioned moxibustion on T-lymphocyte activity in immunosuppressed rats through differential modulation of the immune checkpoint molecules CD28 and CTLA-4.

METHODS

Forty-eight Sprague‒Dawley rats were randomly divided into the normal group (NG), the cyclophosphamide model group (CTX), the herb-partitioned moxibustion group (HPM), the CD28 inhibitor + herb-partitioned moxibustion group (aCD28 + HPM), the CTLA-4 inhibitor + herb-partitioned moxibustion group (aCTLA-4 + HPM), and the levamisole group (LEV) (8 rats per group). The immunosuppression model was prepared using cyclophosphamide. HPM treatments was performed via herb-partitioned moxibustion at 4 acupoints, Zhongwan (CV12), Shenque (CV8), Guanyuan (CV4), and Zusanli (ST36). Subsequently, the moxa floss was made into a conical moxa cone, which was then placed on the herbal cake and ignited. Five consecutive moxibustion strokes were performed daily for 10 consecutive days. In addition to the same moxibustion, each rat in the aCD28 + HPM group was injected intraperitoneally with 0.5 mg/kg of CD28 inhibitor per rat on the first day of treatment, and 100 μL of CTLA-4 inhibitor was injected into the aCTLA-4 + HPM group on Days 1, 4, and 7. For the positive control, levamisole (LEV) was administered by gavage at a dose of 2 mg/kg once daily for 10 days.

RESULTS

Compared with those in CTX model rats, the WBC counts in the HPM and other groups were significantly higher. The immobility time of EPM in the HPM group was significantly lower than that of the CTX group. The HE stainin results also showed that after treatment, the the marginal zone area of the spleen tissue in the HPM increased, the number of lymphatic sheath lymphocytes around the small central artery of the spleen increased, and the amount of red pulp containing a small amount of pigmentation was partially reduced. Compared with those in the CTX group, the serum levels of CD28, CTLA-4, B7-1, and B7-2 were significantly lower, and the levels of α-MSH, TrkB, and BDNF were significantly greater in the HPM group. The results of the flow cytometry assay showed a significant increase in the number of CD8 + T lymphocytes after treatment with HPM or other agents compared to that in the CTX group. The immunofluorescence results showed that the levels of CD28 and CTLA-4 lower in spleen tissues than in control tissues, and the binding ability of CD28 to B7-1 and B7-2 was weakened after treatment with HPM and other treatments compared with CTX rats, PCR for CD28, CTLA-4 and B7-1 showed similar results.

CONCLUSION

In the immunosuppressive rat model induced by cyclophosphamide, HPM upregulated the expression of α-MSH, TrkB, and BDNF, and downregulated the expression of CD28 and CTLA-4, thereby enhancing the activity of CD8+ T lymphocytes, restoring spleen function, improving the immunosuppressive state, restoring immune function, and effectively alleviating depressive symptoms.

Features of immune reactivity of the spleen and mechanisms of organ damage under the influence of animal venom toxins including scorpions (review)

OBJECTIVE

Aim: To establish features of immune reactivity of the spleen and mechanisms of organ damage under the influence of animal venom toxins including scorpions.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Materials and Methods: A thorough literature analysis was conducted on the basis of PubMed, Google Scholar, Web of Science, and Scopus databases. When processing the search results, we chose the newest publications up to 5 years old or the most thorough publications that vividly described the essence of our topic.

CONCLUSION

Conclusions: Spleen plays a leading role in the implementation of the body's defense processes, the elimination of structural elements affected by toxins, and the restoration of immune homeostasis. Its participation in the formation of the immune response can be accompanied by qualitative and quantitative changes in histological organization. Morpho-functional changes in the spleen under the action of animal venom toxins currently require careful study, because from the information available in the literature today, it is not possible to clearly construct a complete picture of lesions of certain components of the organ at the microscopic or submicroscopic levels. Therefore, this direction of research in the medical field is currently relevant, taking into account the existence of a large number of poisonous animals, including scorpions.