ABSTRACT
AIMS: To investigate the effects of methyl gallate (MG) on murine macrophages, cytokine production and treatment of Brucella abortus infection using a mouse model. METHODS AND RESULTS: MG-treated cells displayed increased F-actin polymerization and modest increase in ERK, JNK and p38α phosphorylation levels. The mice were intraperitoneally infected with Br. abortus and were orally treated with PBS or MG for 14 days. The weight and bacterial number from each spleen were monitored, and the serum was evaluated for cytokine production. The spleen proliferation and bacterial burden were lower in the MG-treated group than in the MG-untreated control. The noninfected MG-treated mice displayed increased production of TNF, IFN-γ, and the chemokine MCP-1, whereas the Br. abortus-infected MG-treated mice revealed enhanced induction of IL-12p70, TNF and IL-10 compared to the MG-untreated control. CONCLUSIONS: MG induced F-actin polymerization and modest upregulation of MAPKs. Furthermore, oral treatment with MG induced an immune response and decreased bacterial proliferation in Br. abortus-infected mice, suggesting that MG may be an alternative treatment for brucellosis. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The present study demonstrates the therapeutic effects of MG against Brucella infection through induction of cytokine production and protection from bacterial proliferation in the spleens of mice.