Exploring Cuscuta epithymum’s impact on tyrosine kinase activity in spleen and liver: revealing their roles in stress responses

2025 · doi:10.22541/au.173981000.00361843/v1
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This preprint studied how chronic restraint stress affects tyrosine kinase activity and immune-related cell populations in rat spleen and liver, and whether Cuscuta epithymum extract modifies these effects. Fifty male and 15 female rats were randomly assigned to control versus restraint stress, with Cuscuta extract given in parallel groups, and parent/male pup tissues were assessed on postnatal day 25 for tyrosine kinase levels, megakaryocytes, and macrophage numbers, alongside brain TNF-α and IL-1β by western blot. The stress group showed increased tyrosine kinase and macrophage cell counts in liver and spleen and decreased megakaryocytes, while Cuscuta extract significantly reduced tyrosine kinase and macrophage measures in stressed animals and lowered TNF-α and IL-1β, though the authors note the work is preliminary and not peer reviewed. Relevance to endometriosis: the paper does not explicitly discuss endometriosis or adenomyosis; it was included in the corpus via a keyword match in the upstream search index.

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Abstract

Chronic stress typically provokes immunosuppression, activates tyrosine kinase (TK), and promote inflammatory responses. According to Persian medicine, the spleen plays an important role in immune system and stress response. The properties of Cuscuta epithymum (CE) are considered high through its effects on the immune system and its antioxidant effects. In this experimental study, 50 male and 15 female rats were randomly assigned into four groups and were subjected to restraint stress once a day continuously. At the same time, control and stress rats received normal saline and the other two groups received Cuscuta’s extract. Control and experimental rats were mated to create four types of coupling combinations as follows McFc, MsFs, McFc+EX, MsFs+EX (M: male, F: female, C: control, S: stress, EX: extract). Then, some parents and male pups were dissected on postnatal day (PND) 25; TK level, megakaryocyte, and macrophage cell number in the liver and spleen were evaluated. Quantitative expression of TNF-α and IL-1β protein in the brain were examined by western blot. The level of TK and macrophage cells in the liver and spleen tissues significantly increased in stressed rats compared to the others, while they were significantly decreased in the stress+CE group. Megakaryocyte cells significantly decreased in the stress group while they leveled up in the CE treated rats. Cuscuta extract significantly reduced the TNF-α and IL-1β levels in the brain homogenate. Cuscuta is effective in reducing the adverse effects of stress on the liver and spleen immune system. Also, it shows anti- neuroinflammatory effects.
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Abstract

Chronic stress typically provokes immunosuppression, activates tyrosine kinase (TK), and promote inflammatory responses. According to Persian medicine, the spleen plays an important role in immune system and stress response. The properties of Cuscuta epithymum (CE) are considered high through its effects on the immune system and its antioxidant effects. In this experimental study, 50 male and 15 female rats were randomly assigned into four groups and were subjected to restraint stress once a day continuously. At the same time, control and stress rats received normal saline and the other two groups received Cuscuta’s extract. Control and experimental rats were mated to create four types of coupling combinations as follows McFc, MsFs, McFc+EX, MsFs+EX (M: male, F: female, C: control, S: stress, EX: extract). Then, some parents and male pups were dissected on postnatal day (PND) 25; TK level, megakaryocyte, and macrophage cell number in the liver and spleen were evaluated. Quantitative expression of TNF-α and IL-1β protein in the brain were examined by western blot. The level of TK and macrophage cells in the liver and spleen tissues significantly increased in stressed rats compared to the others, while they were significantly decreased in the stress+CE group. Megakaryocyte cells significantly decreased in the stress group while they leveled up in the CE treated rats. Cuscuta extract significantly reduced the TNF-α and IL-1β levels in the brain homogenate. Cuscuta is effective in reducing the adverse effects of stress on the liver and spleen immune system. Also, it shows anti- neuroinflammatory effects. Supplementary Material File (manusscript1. khavasi.docx) - Download - 11.61 MB Information & Authors Information Version history Copyright This work is licensed under a Non Exclusive No Reuse License.

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Authors Metrics & Citations Metrics Article Usage 211views 137downloads Citations Download citation Leila Ghassemifard, Narjes Khavasi, Ehsan Saboory, et al. Exploring Cuscuta epithymum’s impact on tyrosine kinase activity in spleen and liver: revealing their roles in stress responses. Authorea. 17 February 2025. DOI: https://doi.org/10.22541/au.173981000.00361843/v1 DOI: https://doi.org/10.22541/au.173981000.00361843/v1 If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download. For more information or tips please see 'Downloading to a citation manager' in the Help menu.

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