Ouabain pre-treatment modulates B and T lymphocytes and improves survival of melanoma-bearing animals.

Ouabain (OUA) is a glycoside shown to modulate B and T lymphocytes. Nevertheless, ouabain effects on B16F10 melanoma immune response, a mouse lineage that mimics human melanoma, are still unknown. Our aim was to study how OUA in vivo treatment modulates lymphocytes and if it improves the response against B16F10 cells.

Ouabain Decreases Regulatory T Cell Number in Mice by Reducing IL-2 Secretion.

Background: Ouabain (OUA) is a cardiotonic glycoside originally extracted from African plants. It has also been described as an endogenous component in mammals, being released in stress situations mainly by the adrenal gland. OUA has been reported to be capable of inhibiting mitogen-induced lymphocyte proliferation and also affects B and T lymphocytes.

Dynamics of murine B lymphocytes is modulated by in vivo treatment with steroid ouabain.

Ouabain (OUA) is a steroid hormone capable of inhibiting the protein Na+K+ATPase present in the plasma membrane of cells. Ouabain was initially extracted from the roots of African trees such as Acocanthera ouabaio and Strophantus gratus seeds and later described as an endogenous component found in higher mammals. The adrenal gland is the main site of synthesis of ouabain and it is released in stressful situations, conditions similar to those where there is secretion of corticosteroids.

Modulation of mature B cells in mice following treatment with ouabain.

Ouabain (OUA) is an endogenous hormone released by the adrenal gland under stress situations. Steroid hormones and glucocorticoids have been characterized as selective inhibitors of lymphopoiesis. The present report shows in vivo modulation of mature B cells in bone marrow, spleen and peripheral blood by ouabain.

Heterogeneity in human IFN-γ responses to clinical Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis is one of the most successful human pathogens. Highly virulent strains, which are more easily transmitted than are less virulent strains, elicit variable immune responses. We evaluated the Th1 responses (IFN-γ production) in healthy volunteers after stimulation with various strains.