Minthostachys verticillata essential oil modulates the innate immune response in a mouse mastitis model

MONTIRONI I; RAVIOLO J; MOLIVA M; CAMPRA NA; BAGNIS G; REINOSO E; CARIDDI LN

Congreso; Reunión Conjunta de Sociedades de Biociencias; 2017

The aim of this study was to characterize the immunomodulatory effect of M. verticillata essential oil (EO) in a mouse mastitis model. Balb/c lactating mice were inoculated in mammary glands (MG) as follows: Group 1 (control): 100 μl of PBS/DMSO (0.05%); Group 2: 100 μl of Enterococcus faecium (1x108CFU/ml); Group 3: EO (100μg/ml) administered twice with an interval of 3 days; Group 4: pretreatment with EO and a challenge with E. faecium. Animals were sacrificed at 24, 48, 72, 96 and 360 h post-inoculation (p.i). Bacterial count and histopathology of MG were determined. Gene expression levels of TLR2, TNF-α and IL-1β in the samples were evaluated by quantitative real time-PCR. Group 2 showed intense infiltrations of PMNs since 24 h to 96 h p.i. Bacterial count was low before 72 h and increased from 72 to 360 h p.i. A low expression level of TLR2 was observed whereas an increase expression level of pro-inflammatory cytokines was detected at 96 h p.i regarding the gene expression level of group 1 (p