A Study of the Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Bbe Propolis Extracts on an In Vitro Experimental Model Vsing PBMCs

The Inflammation Inflammation is a protective response performed by the body following to either exogenous or endogenous stimuli which may be potentially harmful. This process accounts for two main phases: 1. a vascular reaction, 2. a cellular reaction. The vascular reaction includes the dilation and the increase of blood vessel permeability. As a direct consequence of these alterations, blood flow may slow within the area of interest (V flow =1/area) and oedema may occur into the interstitial space. The vascular modification may lead to the recruitment of leucocytes towards the inflammatory sites. The leucocyte’s recruitment is a multi-phase process that leads to the adhesion of patrolling leucocytes to the endothelial cells followed by their migration through the endothelium. First of all, some factors such as histamine, PAF (plateled-activating factor) and thrombine act on endothelial cells by causing the distribution of selectins at superficial level. Within the stimulated tissue site, mastocytes, macrophages and endothelial cells secrete cytokines and chemokines. TNF-α and IL-1 are the cytokines that are first released. They induce the expression of specific receptors for integrins on endothelial cell membranes. They also promote some other cytokines production. Chemokynes enter the blood vessels to activate leucocytes and cause a morphological change of integrins whose affinity highly increases for the endothelium receptors. Furthermore, chemokine’s stimulus induces the diapedesis, a process that encounters of leucocytes’ spreading outward of the blood vessels. Therefore, these leucocytes migrate within the tissue towards the original inflammatory site, by performing a process known as chemotaxis, a phenomenon represented by cell movement towards a chemical gradient. Figure 1- Inflammation Leucocytes produce some anti-microbial substances which are released mainly within their lysosomes, although a minimum quantity is also secreted into the extra-cellular space. These 3