Effects of cantharidin on interleukin-2 and interleukin-1 production in mice in vivo
Abstract
After cantharidin (0.75, 1.5 mg.kg-1) was given ip 3 times every other day in mice, Con A-induced spleen lymphocyte proliferation, as measured by [3H]TdR incorporation assay, was enhanced from 7,978 +/- 1,780 to 36,631 +/- 8,467 and 29,997 +/- 3,788 dpm in both doses. Interleukin-2 and interleukin-1 production were also increased from 11 +/- 4 to 52 +/- 18, 23 +/- 6 U.ml-1 and from 7,628 +/- 1,477 to 14,532 +/- 2,272, 11,515 +/- 2,862 dpm, respectively. These results suggest that cantharidin potentiates immune response through the release of interleukin-2 and interleukin-1.
Keywords: