Regulatory Effect of Ellagic Acid on Immune Function in Burned Rats

Abstract To investigate the effect of ellagic acid (EA) treatment on immune function in burned rats. First, 30 Sprague-Dawley rats were established as a deep second-degree burn model. They were randomly divided into three groups: Model group, EA 50 mg/kg, and EA 100 mg/kg group. The wound area of rats at 0–7 days was measured and the wound healing rate was calculated. The levels of inflammatory factors tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interferon γ (IFN-γ), interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-10, and immunoglobulins IgA, IgG, and IgM in rat serum were evaluated by ELISA. Flow cytometry was used to detect the CD4 +/CD8 + T cell ratio, levels of Foxp3 + Treg cells, and CD4 + CD25 + regulatory T cells (Treg) cells levels in the peripheral blood of rats. On the fourth to seventh day of the burn, EA treatment could significantly promote the decrease of the wound area and the increase of the wound healing rate in burned rats. Further examination revealed that the levels of inflammatory factors in serum were remarkedly decreased and immunoglobulins levels were increased in the EA group, compared with the Model group. Meanwhile, the levels of CD4 + CD25 + Treg cells and Foxp3+ Treg cells were significantly decreased, whereas the CD4+/CD8 + T cell ratio was observably increased in a concentration-dependent manner. Altogether, EA effectively promotes the wound healing of burned rats by regulating the levels of inflammatory factors, immunoglobulin, and T cells in burned rats, and improves the symptoms of burn immunosuppression.