Effects of Brazilin on the Altered Immune Functions in the Early Phase of Halothane Intoxication of C57BL/6 Mice

Abstract

To investigate the effects of brazilin on the altered immune functions in the early phase of halothane intoxication in mice, several immune functions were investigated. Halothane was found to alter the immune functions which lead to hepatitis by autoimmune-mediated process. Based on the fact that immunomodulation at an initial step of autoimmune diseases is effective to prevent or control the diseases, in the present study the effects of brazilin on the altered immune functions in the early phase of halothane intoxication of C57BL/6 mice were investigated. By the treatment of halothane, delayed type hyper-sensitivity (DTH) and mitogen (ConA, LPS) induced proliferation of splenocytes were significantly increased and suppressor cell activity and mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) were decreased in C57BL/6 mice. But IgM plaque forming cells (PFCs) were not significantly changed. All the parameters tested were changed in homing patterns by the treatment with brazilin. But brazilin significantly increased IgM PFCs to higher than the normal level.

key words

Halothane - brazilin - Caesalpinia - Leguminosae - autoimmune disease - immunomodulation