Potential Regulatory Functions of Propolis to Ameliorate Hematopoietic Disorder in Diabetic Mouse Model

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus (DM) in autoimmune case, related to cytotoxic T cells activation as a response to autoantigen. In the recent studies, propolis is known as a potential immunomodulator. The aim of this study is to determine the effect of propolis as a regulator to ameliorate diabetic mouse model. In vivo experiment was done using streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice. There are five experiment groups; that are DM group (diabetic mice model without treatment); propolis ethanolic extract treatment group doses of 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg BW; and normal mice group. Effect of propolis was observed 14 days post treatment by flow cytometric analysis. The number of CD8⁺CD62L^-, CD4⁺CD25⁺CD62L⁺(T_reg), B220⁺,  and NK⁺ cells was assessed from splenic cells. The result showed that administration of propolis for 14 days could reduce the number of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) memory significantly (p ≤ 0, 05). Especially the doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg BW could suppress the activation of CTL quite similar to those normal groups. Propolis with the dose of 200 mg/kg BW increase the number of  T_reg, B220, and NK cells. The increase of T_reg may reduce the activation of CTL and prevent tissue damage by autoreactive cells, and finally hematopoietic imbalance can be overcome.

Keywords: B220, diabetes mellitus, immunomodulatory, NK, propolis.