NEEM LEAF GLYCOPROTEIN ACTIVATES IgM-SECRETING B1 CELLS IN PERITONEAL CAVITY AND SPLEEN OF SWISS MICE

Intraperitoneal administration of neem leaf glycoprotein (NLGP) to mice induced a marked increase in CD5+IgM+ B1 cells in the peritoneal cavity and IgM+B1 cells in the spleen. B1 cells are the important source of natural antibody (IgM) and the increase in B1 cells in both the compartments elicited the production of IgM antibody in the serum as evidenced by flow cytometry against EAC tumor cells. Because the B1 cells are important in host defense, these changes may contribute in tumor growth inhibition and defense against pathogens.