Aspirin 15cH has Different Effects on Morphology and Function of Lipopolysaccharide-Challenged RAW 264.7 Macrophages In Vitro Compared to a Pharmacological Dose of Aspirin.
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| Abstract | INTRODUCTION:  Aspirin is one of the most commonly used drugs worldwide. It is known to present antipyretic, anti-inflammatory and anti-thrombotic actions, making it extremely useful in a wide range of clinical contexts. Interestingly, homeopathically prepared 15cH has been found to have a pro-thrombotic effect in rats, raising the hypothesis that 15cH could also modulate the activity of inflammatory cells in different pathological processes.OBJECTIVE:  Our objective was to assess what effect 15cH has on RAW 264.7 macrophages .METHODS:  The effects of 15cH on biochemical and morphological activities of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages were evaluated. These effects were compared with unchallenged macrophages (negative control), untreated LPS-stimulated macrophages, macrophages treated with succussed water (vehicle control), or aspirin 200 µg/mL (pharmacological inhibitor of LPS activity). Cell morphology (adhered cell area and cytoskeleton arrangements), cell viability, toll-like receptor-4 (TLR-4) expression, and the production of nitric oxide, cytokines and intracellular reactive oxygen species were assessed.RESULTS:   15cH reduced the number of cells expressing TLR-4 on the surface ( = 0.03) and induced a "columnar" morphology of macrophage pseudopods, indicating changes in cytoskeleton arrangement. When cells were treated with both 15cH and LPS, cell morphology became heterogeneous, suggesting that sub-populations of cells had differing sensitivities to LPS or 15cH. Exposure of the cells to LPS alone, succussed water or aspirin 200 µg/mL produced effects consistent with the literature.CONCLUSION:   15cH, aspirin 200 µg/mL, LPS and succussed water appear to act as independent stimuli able to induce different patterns of macrophage response. 15cH induced changes suggestive of M2 polarization of the macrophages (i.e., toward a wound healing or tissue repair, rather than inflammatory, phenotype). These preliminary findings need to be confirmed in further specific studies. |
| Year of Publication | 2023
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| Journal | Homeopathy : the journal of the Faculty of Homeopathy
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| Date Published | 07/2023
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| ISSN | 1476-4245
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| DOI | 10.1055/s-0043-1769105
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| PubMed ID | 37517405
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