Department of Experimental Pathology, Immunology, and Microbiology, Lebanon.
Immunopharmacol Immunotoxicol. 2012 Dec;34(6):951-5. doi: 10.3109/08923973.2012.674530. Epub 2012 May 3.
Alum is thought to induce inflammation resulting in the release of danger signals such as uric acid (UA) which in turn enhances the immune response to an antigen. Hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) is produced as a byproduct in the purine catabolic pathway that leads to the production of UA. In addition, serum nitric oxide (NO) levels are increased in inflammation.
To further explore the mechanism of action of alum, this study was designed to determine the effects of catalase and 1400W on the number of interleukin-4 (IL-4) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) secreting spleen cells in mice given ovalbumin (OVA) with alum.
Groups of BALB/c mice were injected intraperitoneally with alum + OVA, alum, OVA, catalase, or 1400W. Other groups were treated with catalase or 1400W and given alum + OVA. The number of IL-4 and IFN-γ secreting spleen cells were determined at days 4 and 7 postinjection by enzyme-linked immunosorbent spot (ELISPOT).
Catalase and 1400W caused a decrease in the number of IL-4 secreting spleen cells induced by alum + OVA. 1400W caused a decline in the IFN-γ secreting spleen cells induced by alum + OVA. Catalase caused an increase in IFN-γ secreting spleen cells.
It appears that H(2)O(2) and NO are needed for alum-induced production of a T-helper 2 cytokine. NO also appears to be needed, whereas H(2)O(2) appeared to inhibit an alum-induced production of a T-helper 1 cytokine. These results might explain why alum is mainly a promoter of a T-helper 2 response.
明矾被认为会引发炎症，导致尿酸（UA）等危险信号的释放，进而增强对抗原的免疫反应。过氧化氢（H2O2）是嘌呤分解代谢途径的副产物，导致 UA 的产生。此外，血清一氧化氮（NO）水平在炎症中增加。
为了进一步探讨明矾的作用机制，本研究旨在确定过氧化氢酶和 1400W 对用明矾给予卵清蛋白（OVA）的小鼠脾细胞分泌白细胞介素-4（IL-4）和干扰素-γ（IFN-γ）的数量的影响。
BALB/c 小鼠组腹腔内注射明矾+OVA、明矾、OVA、过氧化氢酶或 1400W。其他组用过氧化氢酶或 1400W 处理，并给予明矾+OVA。通过酶联免疫斑点（ELISPOT）在注射后第 4 天和第 7 天测定 IL-4 和 IFN-γ 分泌脾细胞的数量。
过氧化氢酶和 1400W 导致明矾+OVA 诱导的 IL-4 分泌脾细胞数量减少。1400W 导致明矾+OVA 诱导的 IFN-γ 分泌脾细胞数量下降。过氧化氢酶导致 IFN-γ 分泌脾细胞增加。
似乎 H2O2 和 NO 是明矾诱导 Th2 细胞因子产生所必需的。NO 似乎也需要，而 H2O2 似乎抑制了明矾诱导的 Th1 细胞因子的产生。这些结果可能解释了为什么明矾主要是 Th2 反应的促进剂。
