Modulation of macrophage function activity by ethanolic extract of larvae of Holotrichia diomphalia.

Macrophages play a central role in determining the host response to tumor, in part through the secretion of several potent products. In this study, our work is directed toward studying the in vitro effects of extract from the larvae of Holotrichia diomphalia (HD-EX) on the ability to induce cellular and secretory responses in mouse peritoneal macrophages. Macrophages were treated with various doses (0.1, 1, 10 microg/ml) of HD-EX for 20 h. This treatment induced tumoricidal activity and increased the production of tumor necrosis factor (TNF-alpha) and nitric oxide (NO) by macrophages in a concentration-dependent manner. However, HD-EX had a little effect on phagocytosis and the levels of hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)), interleukin-1 (IL-1), IL-6 and IL-10 were very low in HD-EX treated macrophages. Thus, the tumoricidal effect of HD-EX appeared to be mainly mediated by NO and TNF-alpha production from macrophages. Taken together, these results suggest that HD-EX is a differential immunomodulating effect on macrophage secretory and cellular activities.