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Updated: Mar 9, 2026

Isolation and Th17 Differentiation of Naïve CD4 T Lymphocytes
Published on: September 26, 2013
Barberry's (Berberis integerrima) ingredients suppress T-cell response and shift immune responses toward Th2: an in
Shirin Fateh1, Shaghayegh Pishkhan Dibazar1, Saeed Daneshmandi1
1Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.
Aim:
Food and medicinal applications of barberry date back to 2500 years ago. This study investigates Berberis integerrima impact on lymphocytic immune responses.
Materials & Methods:
Balb/c splenocytes were treated by 0.001-1000 μg/ml of B. integerrimaaqueous and alcoholic extracts in presence of phytohemagglutinin and lipopolysaccharide mitogens. Cell proliferation was assayed and cytokines were measured using ELISA.
Results:
Both extracts suppressed proliferation of phytohemagglutinin stimulated splenocytes (as T cells), while alcoholic extract induced expansion of lipopolysaccharide activated cells (as B lymphocytes) and unstimulated cells (p < 0.05). Both barberry extracts suppressed IFN-γ production (p < 0.05) and enhanced IL-4, IL-10 and TGF-β release from splenocytes (p < 0.05).
Conclusion:
Both extracts could suppress T-cell and enhance B-cell proliferation and shift immune responses toward Th2.
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