Effects of VISCUM ALBUM L. on cyclophosphamide- treated peripheral blood mononuclear cells in vitro: sister chromatid exchanges and activation/ proliferation marker expression

Journal/Book: Cancer Letters 94, 199-205. 1995;

Abstract: Based on recently published data, Viscum album L. (VAL) extracts havebeen shown to provide a DNA stabilizing effect which seems to berestricted to the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). We have nowinvestigated whether VAL exerts effects of cellular protection forphytohemagglutinin-activated PBMC treated with cyclophosphamdie (CP) invitro. The addition of VAL resulted in a slight reduction of CP-inducedsister chromatid exchanges of cultured PBMC from healthy individuals.The incubation with CP significantly reduced the expression of the lowaffinity interleukin-2 receptor (IL-2R alpha chain) and of transferrinreceptor (TfR) on PHA-stimulated T lymphocytes. The addition of 10micrograms/ml VAL was protective against the CP-induced depression ofIL-2R alpha chain and TfR expression on these cells. The simultaneousaddition of CP and purified VAL components, such as ML I, ML II/III, andviscotoxins did not significantly change expression of IL-2R alpha chainand TfR on T cells. Thus, so far undefined VAL components might beresponsible for the observed protection effects of the whole plantextract. The results presented here should encourage investigation ofthis drug, which might become an interesting adjuvant in cancer therapy.Author.

Keyword(s): ADULT

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