The immunomodulatory effects of low molecular weight garlic protein in crosstalk between peripheral blood mononuclear cells and colon cancer cells

Abstract Garlic is an ancient plant whose medicinal usage has a long traditional history. It has been always advocated as a suitable candidate for immunomodulation. The purpose of the present study was to assess the immunomodulatory effects of Low Molecular Weight Garlic Proteins (LMWGP) on the proliferation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), induction of regulatory T cells (Tregs), as well as cytokine secretion in the co-culture of PBMCs and colon cancer cell lines, SW48. Garlic cloves were initially extracted and then protein fractions were separated using gel filtration chromatography and analyzed with mass spectrometry (MS). The effects of LMWGP on the proliferation of PBMCs and induction of Tregs were later analyzed by flow cytometry. Cytokine secretion was also evaluated using the ELISA test. The findings revealed that the proliferation of PBMCs had significantly augmented in the presence of LMWGP (p ≤ 0.05). Moreover, this fraction had reduced induction of Tregs in the co-culture medium (p ≤ 0.05). ELISA results had further demonstrated a decline in cytokines, IL-10, and galectin-3, but an increment in IL-6 in the presence of LMWGP (p ≤ 0.05). According to co-culture study results, it was concluded that LMWGP could be assumed as a beneficial immunomodulatory supplement in herbal medicine for cancer.