Molecular Immuno-response Effects for Iraqi Lycium barbarm Carotenes upon Normal Human lymphocytes culture

Objectives: The study aimed to investigate the effects of Iraqi Lycium barbarm Carotene on normal human blood lymphocytes at molecular level. Methods: The normal human blood lymphocytes culture was exposed to Carotene extracted from Iraqi Lycium barbarm to estimate the interleukins  expression in treated lymphocytes represented by IL-10 and TNF-α as a moderator of immune response at a molecular scale, and their CD markers changes expression (CD3, CD4&CD8) by  flow-cytometer apparatus. Results: Total carotenes content was 0.33mg/g powdered dried fruit. Potent carotene effect was appeared at concentration of 500µg/ml for  treated lymphocytes with increasing CD3 level to get upper level after 2 hours interval, while after 4 hours exposure both CD4 and CD8 levels increased dramatically for lymphocytes treated with 125 µg/ml, and 250µg/ml Lycium carotene. An alteration in cytokines gene expression for IL-10 production in response to carotene treatments at (125,250,500) µg/ml for both intervals, with suppress in tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) gene expression in relation to β-actin the internal control and the PHA mitogenic agent. Conclusion: The study concluded that the carotenes extracted from Lycium barbarm fruits seemed to initiate the immune system toward Th2 cell activation rather thanTh1, besides the extract may potentiate IL-10 production.