The Effects of Garlic Extract on IL-17A IL-17F and IFNγ mRNA Expression in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells of Multiple Sclerosis Patients

Abstract

Background: Garlic contains steroidal saponins which modulate several aspects of the immune system including inflammation and monocyte proliferation. Considering the importance of Th1 and Th17 lymphocytes in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS), and the modulatory effects of saponins on the immune system, the present study was performed in search for a novel herbal medicine for the treatment of MS. Methods: This experimental study was performed at Isfahan University of Medical Sciences in 2020. Garlic onions were collected and subjected to extraction. Next, blood samples were collected from five new cases with Relapsing remitting MS (RRMS) being the most prevalent type of MS, and Peripheral Blood mononuclear cells were isolated using Ficoll™. Cells were cultured in RPMI medium and treated with 1, 2.5, 5 and 10 µg/ml of garlic butanol partition for 18 hrs. Then, the cells were subjected to RNA extraction, cDNA synthesis and Real-Time PCR for analysis of IL-17A, IL-17F and IFNγ mRNA expression levels. Findings: Although treatment of the cells with the above concentrations of the garlic butanolic extract showed no significant effect on the IL-17A gene expression level, but the 1 and 2.5 µg/ml concentrations significantly reduced mRNA expression levels of IL-17F and IFNγ genes. Conclusion: Since reduction in the expression level effects was not significant at 5 and 10 µg/ml, it is concluded that the extract might be effective at low concentrations or the effect should not be concentration dependent. Further studies on more samples and with a range of lower concentrations should be performed. © 2022 Isfahan University of Medical Sciences(IUMS). All rights reserved.