Immunomodulatory effect of lectin from Musca domestic pupa on immunosuppressive mice: Effect of lectin on immunosuppressive mice

The present study was conducted to elucidate the immunomodulatory effect of a lectin from Musca domestic pupa (MPL) in vivo. The effects of MPL (200, 400 and 800 μg/kg body wt.) on immune organ weight, mitogen-induced proliferation of spleen lymphocyte, phagocytosis activity of macrophages, NK cell activity, and the mRNA expression of immune factor in spleen like interleukin (IL) and interferon (IFN) were investigated in cyclophosphamide (CP) immunosuppressive mice. In comparison with that of immunosuppressive mice, the weight index of spleen and thymus were significantly increased (p<;0.05), the proliferation of spleen lymphocyte was enhanced, NK cell activity and phagocytosis activity of macrophages had been improved (p<;0.01) and the mRNA expression of IL-6, IL-12 and INF-γ in spleen were potentialized in a dose-dependent manner by MPL administration. These results demonstrated that MPL has a remarkable immunomodulatory effect on immunosuppressive mice, which suggested that MPL could be useful for further study as an immunomodulating agent.