Chlorella vulgaris extract and Imiquimod as new therapeutic targets for leishmaniasis: An immunological approach.
Immunobiology
; 229(1): 152779, 2024 Jan.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38118344
ABSTRACT
The therapeutic regimen for the treatment of American Tegumentary Leishmaniasis (ATL) is targeted at the death of the parasite; therefore, it is essential to develop a treatment that can act on the parasite, combined with the modulation of the inflammatory profile. Thus, the aim of this study was to make an in vitro evaluation of the therapeutic potential of Chlorella vulgaris extract (CV) and Imiquimod for ATL. Selectivity indices (SI) were determined by inhibitory concentration assays (IC50) in L. braziliensis cells and cytotoxic concentrations (CC50) were measured in human cells using the MTT method, based on the CV microalgae extract (IC50 concentrations of 15.63 to 500 µg/mL; CC50 concentrations of 62.5-1000 µg/mL) in comparison with the reference drugs and Imiquimod. The immune response was evaluated in healthy human cells by gene expression (RT-qPCR) and cytokine production (Flow Cytometry). The CV extract (SI = 6.89) indicated promising results by showing higher SI than meglumine antimoniate (SI = 3.44) (reference drug). In all analyses, CV presented a protective profile by stimulating the production of Th1 profile cytokines to a larger extent than the reference drugs. Imiquimod showed a high expression for Tbx21, GATA3, RORc and Foxp3 genes, with increased production only of the TNF cytokine. Therefore, the data highlight the natural extract and Imiquimod as strong therapeutic or adjuvant candidates against ATL, owing to modulation of immune response profiles, low toxicity in human cells and toxic action on the parasite.
Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Leishmania braziliensis
/
Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous
/
Chlorella vulgaris
/
Antiprotozoal Agents
Limits:
Humans
Language:
En
Journal:
Immunobiology
/
Immunobiology (1979)
Year:
2024
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Brazil
Country of publication:
Netherlands