Immunomodulatory Effect of Propolis on Foxp۳ Gene Expression in Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells Stimulated in vitro with Pseudomonas Aeruginosa Ag

Immune balance during infection is critical for both supporting the defense of the immune system of the body and preventing an overly aggressive immune response. Foxp۳, a transcription factor of regulatory T cells, plays a critical role in balancing the immune system of the body. Propolis has been shown to affect Foxp۳ expression. This study aimed to verify the effect of propolis extracts on in vitro Foxp۳ gene expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) stimulated with Pseudomonas aeruginosa Ag. In this study, a total of ۲۰ apparently healthy volunteers were included, with ۱۰ males and ۱۰ females within the age range of ۲۰-۴۰ years old. Five ml of blood were drawn from each participant to assess Foxp۳ gene expression in PBMCs using density gradient lymphoprep and stimulated with P.aeruginosa lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in vitro. The samples were divided into four distinct groups as follows: LPS stimulated PBMCs, ethanol-extracted propolis (EEP) + LPS stimulated PBMCs, and water-extracted propolis (WEP) + LPS stimulated PBMCs and PBMCs as the control group. The Foxp۳ gene expression level was estimated in all four groups following a period of ۴۸ h of cultivation by real-time polymerase chain reaction technique using SYBR green dye. Results of the study indicated that propolis had a great effect on the mRNA Foxp۳ expression. Both EEP and WEP had immunomodulatory effects through the Foxp۳ mRNA expression, both the EEP and WEP could significantly inhibit Foxp۳ mRNA gene expression by human PBMCs after stimulation with pseudomonas Ag in vitro. Propolis exhibited an immunoregulatory effect which was the same with ethanol and water extracts on Foxp۳ mRNA gene expression.

Keywords:

Foxp۳ , Gene expression , Immunomodulatory , Propolis