Poplar bark lipids enhance mouse immunity by inducing T cell proliferation and differentiation

Research on the composition and application of immune enhancers in livestock and poultry breeding has been gaining interest in recent years. Poplar bark lipids (PBLs), which are extracted from poplar tree bark, are natural substances known to efficiently enhance the immune response. To understand the chemical makeup of PBLs and their underlying mechanism for enhancing the immune system, we extracted PBLs from poplar bark using petroleum ether and subjected these extracts to chemical analysis. To evaluate PBLs effect on the immune system mice were treated with different doses of PBL via gavage and sacrificed 4 weeks later. PBLs were shown to be rich in vitamin E, unsaturated fatty acids, and other immune-potentiating compounds. Treatment with PBLs increased the spleen index and stimulated spleen and thymus development. In addition, PBLs increased the number of CD3⁺CD4⁺ cells in the peripheral blood and the ratio of CD4⁺/CD8⁺ cells while decreasing the number of CD3⁺CD8⁺ cells. Moreover, PBLs significantly increased IL-4 and IFN-γ levels in mouse serum and TLR4 mRNA and protein expression in the spleen. Taken together these results demonstrate that PBLs exert their immune-potentiating effects by promoting spleen and thymus development, T lymphocyte proliferation and differentiation, and immune factor expression. These immune-potentiating effects may be related to the activation of TLR4. This study provides a theoretical basis for the development of PBLs as an immune adjuvant or feed additive in the future.