EFFECT OF PHLOJODICARPUS SIBIRICUS ON THE SUBPOPULATION COMPOSITION OF BLOOD CELLS AND THYMUS OF MICE WITH A SIMULATED TUMOR

Abstract

In the present study, the effect of Phlojodicarpus sibiricus extract on the immune response in C57Black/6 mice during a model of melanoma induced by the B16 cell line was investigated. The aim of the work was to evaluate the immunomodulatory properties of the plant extract in the context of oncogenesis.

To achieve this goal, an experiment was conducted with the formation of three groups of mice: a control group of healthy animals, a group with induced melanoma receiving the extract, and a melanoma group not receiving the extract. The melanoma tumor was modeled by injecting a suspension of B16 cells, and the extract of Phlojodicarpus sibiricus was administered orally after the first signs of melanoma growth appeared. Changes in the subpopulation composition of lymphocytes in the blood and in the thymus were assessed using flow cytometry with specific monoclonal antibodies to identify T-lymphocytes, T-helper cells, T-killer cells, B-lymphocytes, NK cells, and T-regulatory cells.

The results obtained from the study did not reach statistical significance (p<0.05); however, certain trends were observed in the thymus, where a decrease in the content of T-regulatory cells and NK cells was noted in the group receiving the extract compared to the melanoma modeling group. This reduction may indicate a potential influence of the extract on the antitumor immune response, while changes in the ratio of T-helper to T-killer cells suggest possible regulation of cellular immunity. The reduction in B-lymphocyte levels may reflect a shift in the immune response from humoral to cell-mediated, which could be beneficial in the context of tumor pathology.

The extract of Phlojodicarpus sibiricus appears to modulate melanoma development, suggesting potential for further research in immunomodulation and anti-tumor therapy. The study indicates reduced levels of T-regulatory cells and NK cells in the extract group, hinting at a diminished antitumor immune response. Additionally, a decline in B-lymphocytes suggests a shift from humoral to cell-mediated immunity. These findings highlight the extracts potential as an immunomodulating agent, though further research is necessary to confirm these effects. It is crucial to analyze the extracts mechanisms of action, particularly how it activates lymphocytes and regulates cellular apoptosis.