| ironjustice@aol.com 2006-08-11, 8:25 am |
| Effects of silymarin on the proliferation and glutathione levels of
peripheral blood mononuclear cells from beta-thalassemia major
patients.
Fariba Alidoost, Marjan Gharagozloo, Bahram Bagherpour, Abbas Jafarian,
Seyed Ebrahim Sajjadi, Hamid Hourfar, Behjat Moayedi
Iron toxicity in beta-thalassemia major is the main cause of oxidative
stress and cell mediated immune deficiencies. Despite indicative signs
of severe oxidative deficiencies associated with beta-thalassemia
major, such as decreased level of plasma antioxidants and depletion of
erythrocyte glutathione, little is known about intracellular redox
status of immune cells. Since glutathione is a primary intracellular
antioxidant and plays an essential role in several functions in T
cells, in this study intracellular glutathione (GSH) levels as well as
proliferation of PHA-activated peripheral blood mononuclear cells
(PBMC) were investigated in 28 beta-thalassemia major patients and 28
healthy age-matched individuals. Considering the potential benefits of
flavonoids in the therapy of oxidative stress, the effects of silymarin
on the GSH levels and proliferation of PBMC from normal and thalassemia
individuals were further examined. Quantitative determination of
intracellular GSH and proliferative response of PBMC to PHA were
performed before and after 72 h incubation of PBMC with various
concentrations of silymarin (0, 5, 10, or 20 mug/ml). Results
demonstrated a significant reduction of GSH and proliferation in
beta-thalassemia major cells; however treatment with silymarin led to
restoration of both GSH levels and PBMC proliferation in thalassemia
patients. Considerably low levels of GSH and depressed proliferative
response of PBMC in beta-thalassemia major may be responsible for the
cell mediated immune abnormalities in iron overload conditions.
Moreover, the GSH restoration and improvement of PBMC growth by
silymarin is a possible explanation for its recently reported
antioxidant and immunostimulatory activities. These data suggest the
benefit of using flavonoids to normalize immune dysfunction in
beta-thalassemia major. The immunomodulatory effects of silymarin in
beta-thalassemia major are currently under further investigation in a
double blind clinical trial.
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