Larrea divaricata Cav. enhances the innate immune response during the systemic infection by Candida albicans

MARTINO R.; DAVICINO R; MATTAR A; CASALI Y; SASSO C; MICALIZZI, B

Mendoza

Congreso; XXVIII Reunión Anual Científica de la Sociedad de Biología de Cuyo.; 2010

Sociedad de Biología de Cuyo

Larrea divaricata is a plant with several applications in argentinean folk medicine. The aim of this work was to evaluate the response of murine macrophages (MO) when were infected with Candida albicans and treated with a fraction obtained from L. divaricatais a plant with several applications in argentinean folk medicine. The aim of this work was to evaluate the response of murine macrophages (MO) when were infected with Candida albicans and treated with a fraction obtained from L. divaricataCandida albicans and treated with a fraction obtained from L. divaricataand treated with a fraction obtained from L. divaricata (F1). Healthy and infected mice were used. Treatments during 3 days with PBS or F1 administered once a day. Treatments started 24h after infection. Fifteen days after infection, MO were harvested and the following tests were performed: phagocytosis, superoxide production by NBT test, nitric oxide (NO) levels, cytosolic proteins, viability by MTT test and apoptosis by ladder assay. Results show a significant increase of the phagocytosis when F1 was used (p<0.01). Treatment with F1 increases superoxide anion production both, with and without zimosan (p<0.05). The cytosolic proteins also show an increase with F1. Cell viability shows a significant increase when infected mice were treated with F1 (p<0.05). Apoptosis was observed in all the tested groups. No variations on NO level were observed. Based on these results we conclude that MO still remain activated 15 days after infection by C. albicansC. albicans and that F1 could be an excellent enhancering treatment of innate immune system in immunosuppressed patients.