CYTOKINE PROFILE OF C57BL/6 MICE WITH MODELED MELANOMA TUMOR AFTER ADMINISTRATION OF PHLOJODICARPUS SIBIRICUS EXTRACT

The article investigates the effect of Phlojodicarpus sibiricus extract on the cytokine status of C57Bl/6 mice with transplanted melanoma. Phlojodicarpus sibiricus, also known as the Siberian phlojodicarpus, is a perennial herbaceous plant belonging to the Apiaceae family. It is widely distributed in Siberia and the Russian Far East. The extract was administered orally at a dosage of 100 mg/ml, and the concentrations of cytokines such as IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-10, IL-12, TNF-α, IFN-γ, and GM-CSF were assessed. The experiment included three groups of mice: a control group, a tumor group, and a tumor plus extract group. The results of our experimental investigation indicate the complexity of changes in the cytokine profile of mice with modeled melanoma. Mice with tumors showed elevated levels of IL-4 and reduced levels of IL-5 compared to the control group, suggesting a predominance of the Th1/Th2 balance towards a Th2 immune response. Additionally, the high concentration of IFN-γ indicates active participation of the Th1 response, highlighting the intricate dynamics of cytokine interactions in the context of tumor growth. Analysis of the cytokine profile in mice receiving the extract orally showed that the level of IFN-γ was statistically significantly lower than that in the tumor group and remained similar to that of the control group. The mechanism underlying the suppression of this cytokine production may be related to the low level of IL-12. Overall, the cytokine levels in mice treated with the extract showed signs of a predominance of the Th2 immune response. These results open new prospects for the targeted use of the extract in melanoma immunotherapy and warrant further investigation into its mechanisms of action on various components of the immune system.