Prophylactic Administration of Gypsophila oldhamiana Extract Restricts Acute Toxoplasma gondii Infection via the DC-IL-12-CD8⁺ T Cell Axis in a Murine Model
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is a globally prevalent parasite that poses significant medical and veterinary challenges. Although current therapies such as pyrimethamine and sulfadiazine are effective, they often cause severe adverse effects, including myelosuppression, highlighting the need for safer and more effective alternatives. In this study, we evaluated the immunostimulatory and antiparasitic activities of three traditional herbal extracts, Stellaria dichotoma L. var. lanceolata Bge. (LDS), Stellaria aquaatic (SA) and Gypsophila oldhamiana (GO), in a murine model of T. gondii infection. To investigate mechanisms, bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDCs) were treated in vitro. For the in vivo model, C57BL/6 mice received oral extracts (100 mg/kg/day) for 13 days, starting six days prior to intraperitoneal challenge with T. gondii (ME49). Parasite burden and splenic immune profiles were analyzed at 7 days post-infection to assess acute-phase containment. The findings of this study show that in vitro, GO extract promoted the maturation of BMDCs, significantly increasing CD11c+CD11blo mature dendritic cell subset and the expression of costimulatory molecules (CD40/CD80). Notably, GO simultaneously upregulated PD-L1 and PD-L2 on DCs, indicating a balanced Th1 response that prevents excessive immunopathology through checkpoint regulation while preserving strong effector functions. In vivo, GO-treated mice exhibited significantly lower splenic parasite loads than those…
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