Immunotoxicologic / immunomodulatory action of geopropolis associated with doxorubicin on human monocytes

• Grant number: 16/02249-4
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Effective date (Start): August 01, 2016
• Effective date (End): February 28, 2018
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Pharmacology - Ethnopharmacology
• Principal researcher: José Maurício Sforcin
• Grantee: Lucas Pires Garcia Oliveira
• Home Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IBB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Cancer is a disease that affects millions of people in different continents, resulting in millions of deaths annually. The antineoplastic treatments are known for their broad list of side effects, toxicity, induction of resistance in tumor cells and appearance of infections, besides the lack of selectivity between normal and tumor cells. In order to alleviate the side effects caused by anticancer agents, the administration of natural products concomitantly with drugs has been investigated. Geopropolis is produced by stingless bees (Meliponini) from resins, vegetable fibers, wax and typically soil, and its pharmacological properties have been investigated more recently. The antiproliferative and cytotoxic action of geopropolis associated with different chemotherapeutic agents was evaluated by our group against human laryngeal epidermoid carcinoma cells (HEp-2). In my scientific initiation project, we obtained preliminary data on the action of geopropolis in combination with doxorubicin on THP-1 cells. This study was based on previous data from our group to elucidate the possible imunotoxicologic and immunomodulatory action of geopropolis associated to doxorubicin on monocytes from healthy individuals, assessing cell markers expression, cytokine and hydrogen peroxide production and the microbicidal activity of monocytes. This project has a practical implication, aiming the adoption of this combination in future therapies, what may be relevant, reducing the concentration of chemotherapeutic agents without affecting the immune functions.

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

GARCIA OLIVEIRA, LUCAS PIRES; CONTE, FERNANDA LOPES; CARDOSO, ELIZA DE OLIVEIRA; CONTI, BRUNO JOSE; SANTIAGO, KARINA BASSO; GOLIM, MARJORIE DE ASSIS; FELTRAN, GEORGIA DA SILVA; ZAMBUZZI, WILLIAN FERNANDO; SFORCIN, JOSE MAURICIO. A new chemotherapeutic approach using doxorubicin simultaneously with geopropolis favoring monocyte functions. Life Sciences, v. 217, p. 81-90, JAN 15 2019. Web of Science Citations: 1.

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

OLIVEIRA, Lucas Pires Garcia. Possible cytotoxic and immunomodulatory action of geopropolis associated with doxorrubicin on human monocytes. 2018. Master's Dissertation - Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp). Instituto de Biociências. Botucatu Botucatu.