In Vitro Evaluation of the Immunomodulatory Potential of Glyphosate and its Interaction with Bioactive Compounds from Green Tea

• Grant number: 25/15699-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: November 01, 2025
• End date: October 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Immunology - Cellular Immunology
• Principal Investigator: Rosemari Otton
• Grantee: Luiza Nunes Soares
• Host Institution: Pró-Reitoria de Pós-Graduação e Pesquisa. Universidade Cruzeiro do Sul (UNICSUL). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Glyphosate, the active ingredient in the commercial herbicide Roundup®, is widely used in agriculture and is associated with potential immunotoxic effects in humans, including changes in the viability and function of immune cells. Understanding these effects is crucial, as human exposure to this herbicide is increasing and may have a direct impact on public health. This study aims to evaluate the in vitro immunomodulatory potential of glyphosate in human lymphocytes, while also investigating the possible interaction with bioactive compounds in green tea (Camellia sinensis), which is recognized for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The hypothesis is that glyphosate will promote immunotoxic outcomes in human lymphocytes, such as modulation in the production of inflammatory cytokines and the proliferative capacity of cells, and that green tea may mitigate the immunotoxic outcomes of glyphosate. To this end, human lymphocytes will be isolated from the peripheral blood of healthy donors and exposed to different concentrations of Roundup® (0 to 2ug/mL) and green tea extract (0-100ug/mL), alone and in co-exposure for 24 and 48 hours. The proliferative capacity of lymphocytes will be assessed using the MTT assay after stimulation with concanavalin A (20ug/mL). The production of inflammatory cytokines will be analyzed by ELISA, focusing on TNF-alpha, IL-4, and IFN-g proteins, while the gene expression of enzymes related to epigenetic DNA modification (DNMTs, HDACs, HATs, and sirtuins) will be evaluated by RT-qPCR. This study will contribute to the understanding of the effects of glyphosate on the human immune system and will allow the evaluation of the viability of natural compounds as protective strategies, with relevance to toxicology and public health. (AU)