Syringic acid improves cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppression in a mouse model

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Pharmacology
• Natural Products Chemistry

Background:

• Cyclophosphamide (CYP) is a chemotherapy agent that causes significant immunosuppression.
• Syringic acid (SA), a phenolic compound from edible plants, has demonstrated potential immunomodulatory effects.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the immunomodulatory effects of SA in mitigating CYP-induced immunosuppression in a mouse model.
• To evaluate SA's protective impact on immune organs and function.

Main Methods:

• BALB/c mice were treated with CYP to induce immunosuppression, with doxycycline as a positive control and SA administered to experimental groups.
• Assessment of immune organ morphology, indices, cell proliferation, antioxidant activity (malondialdehyde levels), and immune cell counts (WBC, lymphocytes).
• Histopathological examination, analysis of cytokine expression (IL-6, IL-7, IL-15, FoxN1), and molecular docking studies were performed.

Main Results:

• SA prevented thymus, spleen, and bone marrow atrophy caused by CYP, dose-dependently improving thymus and spleen indices.
• SA enhanced thymocyte and splenocyte proliferation, reduced oxidative stress by lowering malondialdehyde, and restored WBC and lymphocyte counts.
• SA upregulated key immune-related genes (IL-6, IL-7, IL-15, FoxN1) and showed potential interactions with signaling pathways (STAT3, STAT5, JAK3) via molecular docking.

Conclusions:

• Syringic acid effectively counteracts cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppression in mice.
• SA demonstrates protective effects on immune organs, enhances immune cell activity, and possesses antioxidant properties.
• SA holds promise as an immunologic adjuvant or functional food additive to support patients undergoing chemotherapy.