Immunomodulatory and antioxidant effect of liposomal auraptene against cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppression in BALB/c mice

Introduction: Cyclophosphamide (CP), which is a commonly used chemotherapy drug, can lead to a range of side effects such as immunosuppression, bone marrow suppression, leukopenia, and oxidative stress. This study aims to explore the effects of Auraptene (AUR), which has immunomodulatory and antioxidant properties, on immune function in mice that are experiencing suppression induced by CP. Materials and methods: The experiment involved 60 male BALB/c mice that underwent a 10-day treatment. On days 1, 3, and 9, CP was given at 80 mg/kg IP doses to induce immunosuppression. The mice were divided into five groups: Control group, CP group, CP + liposomal AUR 0.2 mg/kg (AUR 0.2), CP + liposomal AUR 0.25 mg/ kg (AUR 0.25), and liposomal vehicle group. Various parameters were measured, including mouse weight, immune organ weight index (spleen and thymus), spleen and thymus histopathology, levels of inflammatory cytokines (IL2, IL10, IL4, IFN-gamma), TH1/TH2 balance ratio, IgG and IgM immunoglobulin levels, white blood cell count, platelets, neutrophils, lymphocytes, and oxidative activity measured by MDA, SOD, and Total Antioxidant. Results: In the group treated with CP, the mice showed a significant decrease in weight compared to the control group. In contrast, the group treated with AUR maintained their weight and did not show a significant difference from the control group. AUR 0.25 reduced the damage to the spleen and thymus caused by CP. Additionally, AUR 0.25 demonstrated a significant decrease in IL4 and IL10 levels compared to the CP group (p p = 0.04), approaching the levels of the control group. Furthermore, IL2 and IFN-gamma levels in the AUR 0.25 group significantly increased (p p = 0.04) compared to the CP group, reaching levels similar to the control group. AUR also increased serum IgM and IgG levels two to three times compared to the CP group, approaching the levels of the control group. MDA levels in the AUR 0.25 group decreased to normal and control levels. AUR 0.25 also showed increased SOD and Total Antioxidant levels. Additionally, white blood cells, platelets, neutrophils, and lymphocytes in the AUR group significantly increased compared to the CP group, reaching normal levels similar to the control group. The TH1/TH2 ratio in the AUR group exhibited a significant increase of two and a half times (p p = 0.002) compared to the CP group. Conclusion: These results show that AUR protects against the side effects of CP by increasing the function of the humoral and cellular immune system through the balance of TH1/TH2 and increasing the level of immunoglobulins, as well as increasing the antioxidant activity and the protective role of cytotoxicity.