Therapeutic Profile of T11TS vs. T11TS+MiADMSA: A Hunt for a More Effective Therapeutic Regimen for Arsenic Exposure

Abstract

Arsenic exposure is a serious health hazard worldwide. We have previously established that it may result inimmune suppression by upregulating Th2 cytokines while downregulating Th1 cytokines and causing lymphocyticdeath. Treatment modalities for arsenic poisoning have mainly been restricted to the use of chelating agents inthe past. Only recently have combination therapies using a chelating agent in conjunction with other compoundssuch as anti-oxidants, micronutrients and various plant products, been introduced. In the present study, weused T11TS, a novel immune potentiating glycopeptide alone and in combination with the sulfhydryl-containingchelator, mono-iso-amyl-dimarcaptosuccinic acid (MiADMSA) as a therapeutic regimen to combat arsenic toxicityin a mouse model. Results indicated that Th1 cytokines such as TNF-α, IFNγ, IL12 and the Th2 cytokines suchas IL4, IL6, IL10 which were respectively downregulated and upregulated following arsenic induction weremore efficiently restored to their near normal levels by T11TS alone in comparison with the combined regimen.Similar results were obtained with the apoptotic proteins studied, FasL, BAX, BCL2 and the caspases 3, 8 and 9,where again T11TS proved more potent than in combination with MiADMSA in preventing lymphocyte death.The results thus indicate that T11TS alone is more efficient in immune re-establishment after arsenic exposureascompared to combination therapy with T11TS+MiADMSA.