Pharmacological Immunomodulation of Surgical Trauma

Surgery and accidental trauma induce changes in the immune response, showing a predominant pattern of activation through the Th2 cell pathway to the detriment of Th1 cell pathway activation. Anapsos is a hydrosoluble extract obtained from Polypodium leucotomos. Anapsos has shown immunomodulating effects in vitro. On a rat experimental model (tibia and fibula fracture), cytokines (interleukin [IL]-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, and IL-12) (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, ELISA) and cell percentages of CD4, CD8 CD25, CD122, and CD132 (monoclonal antibodies, MoAb) were determined in peripheral blood 7 days before surgery (PRE), 1 day after surgery (1PO), and 7 days after surgery (7PO). On postoperative day 1, rats undergoing fracture show an increase of CD8 percent expression and IL-6 and IL-10 levels, in contrast to rats undergoing fracture plus anapsos treatment. On postoperative day 7, rats undergoing fracture show an increase of IL-6 levels, whereas rats undergoing fracture plus anapsos do not. The IL-12 level...