Effects of Ajoene on Lymphocyte and Macrophage Membrane-Dependent Functions

Abstract

Ajoene, (E, Z) -4, 5, 9-trithiadeca-1, 6, 11-triene 9 oxide, is a compound originally isolated from ethanolic extracts of garlic that impairs platelet aggregation by inhibiting the functional exposure of platelet integrins GPIIb/IIIa. In vitro, Ajoene is toxic for several tumoral cell lines, and exert an antiproliferative effect on T. cruzi and murine malaria parasites. Here we show that Ajoene strongly inhibited the proliferation induced in human lymphocytes by the mitogens phytohemagglutinin (PHA), phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) and anti-CD3, and the capping formation induced in B lymphocytes by anti-IgM antibodies. On macrophages, Ajoene was also found to partially inhibit the lypopolysaccharide-induced production of Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF), and to decrease the phagocytic activity of thioglycolate-elicited mouse peritoneal macrophages for IgG-opsonized, human erythrocytes. Ajoene also partially prevented the lytic effect of human and rabbit TNF on Actinomycin D-treated WEHI 164 cells. These results strongly suggest that Ajoene is a potent modulator of membrane-dependent functions of immune cells.

Enhancement of Intestinal IgA Production by Ajoene in Mice

“…11) In contrast, the results of our study suggest that ajoene acted as an activator of the lymphocyte function. It is therefore necessary to investigate the mechanism for the enhanced IgA production by ajoene in future studies.…”

“…10) Moreover, ajoene has inhibited mitogen-activated lymphocyte proliferation in vitro by altering the membrane-dependent functions in immune cells. 11) However, it is not clear whether ajoene affects the intestinal immune system in vivo. We investigated in this study the effects on intestinal IgA production of administering ajoene to mice.…”

Allium sativum (garlic) suppresses leukocyte inflammatory cytokine production in vitro: Potential therapeutic use in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease

“…Several compounds isolated from Allium sativum (garlic) modulate leukocyte cell proliferation and cytokine production (7)(8)(9). To investigate the possible therapeutic effects of garlic in the treatment of IBD patients, whole blood and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were stimulated in the presence of various concentrations of garlic extract and the effect on leukocyte cytokine production was determined in vitro using multiparameter flow cytometry.…”

CTLA4Fcε, a novel soluble fusion protein that binds B7 molecules and the IgE receptors, and reduces human in vitro soluble CD23 production and lymphocyte proliferation

“…Venous blood samples (5-10 ml) were obtained aseptically in anticoagulant (3Á8% sodium citrate). Some samples were used as whole blood during studies on basophils, and others were processed by density-gradient centrifugation 35 on Histopaque â -1077 (Sigma-Aldrich) to obtain peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) to be used in the lymphocyte proliferation assays. The study was approved by the bioethics committee of the Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Cient ıficas.…”