Abstract

Background: Moringa oleifera is used in traditional medicine as well as in food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries. Water-soluble M. oleifera lectin (WSMoL) is an anionic protein isolated from the seeds of this tree. Until now, immune responses promoted by this lectin in human PBMC have not been investigated.

Objective: The main objective of this study was to investigate the immunomodulatory effects of WSMoL on human PBMC through measurement of lymphocytes subsets, cytokine and nitric oxide levels.

Methods: Human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were isolated through Ficoll technique, were incubated with WSMoL (10 µg/mL) for 24, 48 and 72 hours, and was performed immunophenotyping assay of lymphocytes and monocytes. Culture supernatants were used to determined cytokine and nitric oxide levels. Assays with cells subsets and cytokine production were performed through cytometry. Nitric oxide release assay was determinate by spectrophotometry.

Results: WSMoL induced the release of the cytokines TNF-α, IL-2, IL-6, IL-10 as well as nitric oxide. Incubation of PBMC with this lectin also led to activation of CD8+ T lymphocytes.

Conclusion: WSMoL promotes immunomodulation in human PBMC inducing a potential wound healing profile and, in future in vivo assays, can be evaluated as adjuvant in immunosuppressive diseases and wound repair.

Keywords: Moringa oleifera, immunomodulation, lymphocyte activation, WSMoL, cytokines, Human PBMC.

Graphical Abstract