TY - JOUR AB - Brucella infection is one of the most serious zoonoses worldwide, affecting humans and domestic and wild animals. Astragalus polysaccharide (APS) is extracted from astragalus, which exhibits bioactive properties, including immunomodulation and anti‑tumour and antiviral activity. The present study revealed that APS treatment promoted macrophage activation, the production of pro‑inflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor‑α (TNF‑α), interleukin‑12 and interferon‑γ, and Brucella clearance in murine macrophages and spleens. APS treatment was also demonstrated to protect the integrity of macrophages during infection with live attenuated Brucella suis strain 2 (B. suis S2). The results from in vitro experiments were consistent with the findings from the in vivo study, showing the elevated secretion of TNF‑α and nitric oxide in APS‑treated murine peritoneal macrophages following B. suis S2 infection. The current study demonstrated the potential of APS in the control and treatment of Brucella infection, and the enhancement of host inflammatory and immune responses. AD - Collaborative Innovation Center of Yangtze River Delta Region Green Pharmaceuticals, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310014, P.R. China AU - Shi,Qiwen AU - Zhao,Lan AU - Zhang,Leifang DA - 2019/12/01 DO - 10.3892/etm.2019.8084 EP - 4302 IS - 6 JO - Exp Ther Med KW - Brucella suis strain 2 brucellosis astragalus polysaccharide macrophages cytokines PY - 2019 SN - 1792-0981 1792-1015 SP - 4295 ST - Astragalus polysaccharide strengthens the inflammatory and immune responses of Brucella suis S2‑infected mice and macrophages T2 - Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine TI - Astragalus polysaccharide strengthens the inflammatory and immune responses of Brucella suis S2‑infected mice and macrophages UR - https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2019.8084 VL - 18 ER -