Natural secondary metabolites of sponges of the genus Haliclona are associated with an array of biological activity with therapeutic usage. We investigated the immunopharmacological properties of a presumably novel marine sponge species from Sri Lanka, Haliclona (Soestella) sp. Sponge material was collected from southern Sri Lanka by scuba diving. Sponge identification was based on spicule and skeleton morphology using light microscopy. Selected in vivo and ex vivo tests investigated nonfunctional and functional immunomodulatory activity of the Haliclona (Soestella) sp. crude extract (HSCE) in the Wistar rat model. Compared to the controls, rats orally gavaged daily for 14 consecutive days with 15 mg/kg dose of the HSCE manifested a significant reduction of immune cell counts of total WBCs (by 17%; ), lymphocytes (38%), platelets (52%), splenocytes (20%), and bone marrow cells (BMC; 60%) (), with a concurrent increase in the neutrophil : lymphocyte ratio (); RBC counts abated by 53% (). A significant reduction of the splenosomatic index was evident with the 10 and 15 mg/kg doses (). Rat plasma TNF-α cytokine level was augmented by tenfold (), IL-6 level by twofold () with the 15 mg/kg HSCE treatment, while IL-10 was detectable in rat plasma only with this treatment; the corresponding Th₁ : Th₂ cytokine ratio (TNF-α : IL-10) was indicative of an unequivocal Th1-skewed cytokine response (). Ex vivo bone marrow cell and splenocyte proliferation were significantly and dose dependently impaired by HSCE ( 0.719 and 0.931 μg/mL, respectively; ). Subacute toxicity testing established that HSCE was devoid of general toxic, hepatotoxic, and nephrotoxic effects. In conclusion, HSCE was orally active, nontoxic, and effectively suppressed nonfunctional and functional immunological parameters of Wistar rats, suggestive of the potential use of the HSCE as an immunosuppressant drug lead.

中文翻译：

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海洋海绵的免疫调节活性，Haliclona (Soestella) sp。(Haplosclerida: Chalinidae)，来自斯里兰卡的 Wistar 白化大鼠：免疫抑制和 Th1 偏态细胞因子反应

Haliclona属海绵的天然次级代谢物与一系列具有治疗用途的生物活性有关。我们研究了来自斯里兰卡的一种可能是新型海洋海绵物种Haliclona ( Soestella ) sp.的免疫药理学特性。海绵材料是通过水肺潜水从斯里兰卡南部收集的。海绵鉴定基于使用光学显微镜的针状体和骨架形态。选定的体内和体外试验研究了Haliclona ( Soestella) sp。Wistar 大鼠模型中的粗提取物 (HSCE)。与对照组相比，连续 14 天每天口服灌胃 15 mg/kg HSCE 的大鼠表现出总 WBC 的免疫细胞计数显着减少（减少 17%；)、淋巴细胞 (38%)、血小板 (52%)、脾细胞 (20%) 和骨髓细胞 (BMC；60%) ()，同时中性粒细胞：淋巴细胞比率增加 (); RBC 计数减少了 53% (）。10 和 15 mg/kg 剂量的脾脏指数显着降低（）。大鼠血浆 TNF- α细胞因子水平增加了十倍（), IL-6 水平翻倍 () 15 mg/kg HSCE 处理，而 IL-10 仅在这种处理下才能在大鼠血浆中检测到；相应的 Th ₁  : Th ₂细胞因子比（TNF - α : IL-10）表明存在明确的 Th1 偏态细胞因子反应（）。 离体骨髓细胞和脾细胞增殖受到 HSCE 的显着和剂量依赖性损害（分别为0.719和 0.931  μg /mL；）。亚急性毒性试验证实 HSCE 没有一般毒性、肝毒性和肾毒性作用。总之，HSCE 具有口服活性，无毒，并有效抑制 Wistar 大鼠的非功能性和功能性免疫参数，表明 HSCE 作为免疫抑制剂药物的潜在用途。