Spleen extract
The spleen is an organ that has three main functions. Firstly, it breaks down old and damaged blood cells and removes them from the body. It also has a blood reservoir that can be released into the bloodstream to meet sudden needs that may arise, for example, in the event of bleeding. It also supplies some white blood cells to fight infections. Spleen extract is made from the spleen of animals and used as medicine. Spleen extract is used as a kind of "replacement therapy" in cases where the spleen has been surgically removed or is not functioning properly. People suffering from low white blood cell counts, cancer, infections or HIV-related infections use spleen extracts to boost the function of the immune system. Spleen extract is also used to treat autoimmune diseases such as celiac disease, systemic lupus erythematosus, cercarial dermatitis and rheumatoid arthritis. Some people use spleen extract for a kidney disorder called glomerulonephritis, a blood disorder called thrombocytopenia, an intestinal disorder called ulcerative colitis and vascular inflammation.
How does spleen extract work?
Spleenextract contains ingredients that are believed to stimulate the immune system.
How effective is spleen extract?
There is not enough scientific data to say how effective spleen extract is for infections, celiac disease, systemic lupus erythematosus, cercarial dermatitis, thrombocytopenia, rheumatoid arthritis, kidney disease, ulcerative colitis and vascular disease, or when used to stimulate the immune system or as a replacement therapy for a malfunctioning or surgically removed spleen. Further scientific research is needed to evaluate the effectiveness of spleen extract in these applications.
Safety and side effects
It is not known whether spleen extracts are safe and harmless. There are concerns about contamination from diseased animals used as a source for these extracts. Until more is known, spleen extracts should not be used.
Precautions and warnings
Pregnancy and lactation: Not enough is known about the use of spleen extract during pregnancy and lactation. For this reason, pregnant and breastfeeding women should refrain from using it.
Interactions
There is currently no information on interactions between spleen extract and medications or supplements.
Dosage
An appropriate dosage of spleen extract depends on various factors such as age, state of health and others. At this time, there is insufficient scientific data to determine appropriate dosage ranges for spleen extract. For this reason, you should follow the dosage instructions on the label and/or consult a doctor or pharmacist before use.
References
- Agrawal, A. K. and Gupta, C. M. Tuftsin-bearing liposomes in treatment of macrophage-based infections. Adv.Drug Deliv.Rev. 3-30-2000;41(2):135-146. view abstract.
- Amoscato, A. A., Babcock, G. F., and Nishioka, K. Synthesis and biological activity of [L-3,4-dehydroproline3]-tuftsin. Peptides 1984;5(3):489-494. view abstract.
- Bump, N. J., Najjar, V. A., and Reichler, J. The characteristics of purified HL60 tuftsin receptors. Mol.Cell Biochem. 1-18-1990;92(1):77-84. view abstract.
- Constantopoulos, A., Likhite, V., Crosby, W. H., and Najjar, V. A. Phagocytic activity of the leukemic cell and its response to the phagocytosis-stimulating tetrapeptide, tuftsin. Cancer Res. 1973;33(6):1230-1234. view abstract.
- Cooper, M. R., DeChatelet, L. R., Shirley, P. S., and Cooper, M. R. Does tuftsin alter phagocytosis by human polymorphonuclear neutrophils? Inflammation 1982;6(1):103-112. view abstract.
- Csaba, G., Laszlo, V., and Kovacs, P. Effect of tuftsin on the phagocytotic activity of the unicellular Tetrahymena. Does primary interaction develop imprinting? Z.Naturforsch.[C.] 1986;41(7-8):805-806. View abstract.
- Favez, G. and Leuenberger, P. [Immunology of sarcoidosis]. Schweiz.Med Wochenschr. 7-18-1981;111(29):1066-1075. View abstract.
- Fiedel, B. A. Influence of tuftsin-like synthetic peptides derived from C-reactive protein (CRP) on platelet behavior. Immunology 1988;64(3):487-493. view abstract.
- Fridkin, M., Stabinsky, Y., Zakuth, V., and Spirer, Z. Tuftsin and some analogs: synthesis and interaction with human polymorphonuclear leukocytes. Biochim.Biophys.Acta 1-24-1977;496(1):203-211. view abstract.
- Goldman, R. and Bar-Shavit, Z. On the mechanism of the augmentation of the phagocytic capability of phagocytic cells by Tuftsin, substance P, neurotensin, and kentsin and the interrelationship between their receptors. Ann.N.Y.Acad.Sci. 1983;419:143-155. view abstract.
- Gray, G. A. The treatment of agranulocytic angina with fetal calf spleen. Texas State J Med 1933;29:366-369.
- Greer, A. E. Use of fetal spleen in agranulocytosis: preliminary report. Texas State J Med 1932;28:338-343.
- Hartung, H. P. and Toyka, K. V. Tuftsin stimulates the release of oxygen radicals and thromboxane from macrophages. Immunol.Lett. 1983;6(1):1-6. View abstract.
- Heidemann, E., Jung, A., and Wilms, K. [Tissue specific inhibition of lymphocyte proliferation by spleen extract (lymphocyte chalone) (author's transl)]. Klin.Wochenschr. 3-1-1976;54(5):221-226. view abstract.
- Heidemann, E., Jung, A., Masurczak, J., Podgornik, N., Schmidt, H., and Wilms, K. [Further purification of a tissue specific inhibitor in lymphopoiesis (lymphocyte chalone?) (author's transl)]. Blood 1979;39(2):99-106. view abstract.
- Iyer, R. R., Prasad, H. K., Bhutani, L. K., and Rao, D. N. Effect of tuftsin stimulation on the microbicidal activity exerted by blood monocyte-macrophages of leprosy patients. Int.J.Immunopharmacol. 1990;12(8):859-869. view abstract.
- Iyer, R. R., Prasad, H. K., Bhutani, L. K., and Rao, D. N. Modulation of human lepromatous monocyte-macrophage functions in vitro by tuftsin. Int.J.Immunopharmacol. 1990;12(8):847-858. view abstract.
- Kain, Z., Alkan, M., Chaimovitz, C., Segal, S., Fridkin, M., and Levy, R. Human peritoneal macrophage activity is increased by tuftsin. Immunol. Lett. 6-1-1989;21(3):257-261. view abstract.
- Kaur, J., Khare, S., Bhutani, L. K., and Rao, D. N. Enzyme immunoassay of phagocytosis stimulating tetrapeptide "tuftsin" in normal and leprosy sera. Int.J.Lepr.Other Mycobact.Dis. 1991;59(4):576-581. view abstract.
- Kazanowska, B., Steuden, W., Boguslawska-Jaworska, J., and Konopinska, D. The influence of synthetic tuftsin and its analogs on the function of granulocytes of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Arch.Immunol.Ther.Exp.(Warsz.) 1987;35(2):169-173. view abstract.
- Khare, S., Bhutani, L. K., and Rao, D. N. Quantitative assessment of tuftsin receptor expression and second messenger during in vitro differentiation of peripheral blood derived monocytes of leprosy patients. Mol.Cell Biochem. 1997;171(1-2):1-10. view abstract.
- Khare, S., Bhutani, L. K., and Rao, D. N. Release of reactive nitrogen intermediates from the peripheral blood-derived monocytes/macrophages of leprosy patients stimulated in vitro by tuftsin. Lepr.Rev. 1997;68(1):16-24. view abstract.
- Konopinska, D., Kazanowska, B., and Boguslawska-Jaworska, J. Influence of the peptide chain length of new elongated tuftsin analogs on phagocytosis process. Int.J.Pept.Protein Res. 1984;24(3):267-273. view abstract.
- Kornberg, A., Catane, R., Peller, S., Kaufman, S., and Fridkin, M. Tuftsin induces tissue factor-like activity in human mononuclear cells and in monocytic cell lines. Blood 8-15-1990;76(4):814-819. view abstract.
- Kubo, S., Roh, M. S., Oyedeji, C., Romsdahl, M. M., and Nishioka, K. Effect of tuftsin on human Kupffer cell. Hepatogastroenterology 1998;45(24):2270-2274. view abstract.
- Lewis, C. J. Letter to Reiterate Certain Public Health and Safety Concerns to Firms Manufacturing or Importing Dietary Supplements that Contain Specific Bovine Tissues. 11-14-2000;
- Lukacs, K., Berenyi, E., Kavai, M., Szegedi, G., and Szekerke, M. Potentiation of the defective monocyte chemotaxis in Hodgkin's disease by in vitro tuftsin treatment. Cancer Immunol.Immunother. 1983;15(2):162-163. view abstract.
- Lukacs, K., Szabo, G., Sonkoly, I., Vegh, E., Gacs, J., Szekerke, M., and Szegedi, G. Stimulating effect of tuftsin and its analogues on the defective monocyte chemotaxis in systemic lupus erythematosus. Immunopharmacology 1984;7(3-4):171-178. view abstract.
- Martinez, J. and Winternitz, F. Bactericidal activity of tuftsin. Mol.Cell Biochem. 12-4-1981;41:123-136. view abstract.
- Mathe, G. Do tuftsin and bestatin constitute a biopharmacological immunoregulatory system? Cancer Detect.Prev.Suppl. 1987;1:445-455. view abstract.
- Minter, M. M. Agranulocytic angina: Treatment of a case with fetal calf spleen. Texas State J Med 1933;2:338-343.
- Mucke, D. [Tuftsin]. Allerg.Immunol.(Leipzig) 1984;30(3):127-138. view abstract.
- Naim, J. O., Desiderio, D. M., Trimble, J., and Hinshaw, J. R. The identification of serum tuftsin by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry. Anal Biochem. 1987;164(1):221-226. view abstract.
- Naim, J. O., Lanzafame, R. J., and van Oss, C. J. The effect of anti-tuftsin antibody on the phagocytosis of bacteria by human neutrophils. Immunol.Invest 1991;20(5-6):499-506. view abstract.
- Najjar, V. A. and Nishioka, K. "Tuftsin": a natural phagocytosis stimulating peptide. Nature 11-14-1970;228(5272):672-673. view abstract.
- Najjar, V. A. Biochemical aspects of tuftsin deficiency syndrome. Med.Biol. 1981;59(3):134-138. view abstract.
- Najjar, V. A. Tuftsin, a natural activator of phagocyte cells: an overview. Ann.N.Y.Acad.Sci. 1983;419:1-11. view abstract.
- Nishioka, K. Migration enhancement by tuftsin of human mononuclear cells and its effect on the migration inhibition factor test with tumor antigens. Gann 1978;69(4):569-572. view abstract.
- Nishioka, K., Amoscato, A. A., and Babcock, G. F. Tuftsin: a hormone-like tetrapeptide with antimicrobial and antitumor activities. Life Sci. 3-9-1981;28(10):1081-1090. view abstract.
- Nishioka, K., Amoscato, A. A., Babcock, G. F., Banks, R. A., and Phillips, J. H. Tuftsin: an immunomodulating peptide hormone and its clinical potential as a natural biological response modifier. Cancer Invest 1984;2(1):39-49. view abstract.
- Nishioka, K., Dessens, S. E., and Rodriguez, T., Jr. Stability of sterile saline solutions of synthetic tuftsin, a naturally occurring immunomodulating peptide. Pept.Res. 1991;4(4):230-233. view abstract.
- Nishioka, K., Hurr, K. J., Dessens, S. E., and Rodriguez, T., Jr. A comparative study of [Leu1]Tuftsin and tuftsin, a natural phagocytosis-stimulating peptide. Int.J.Biochem. 1991;23(5-6):627-630. view abstract.
- Nishioka, K., Wagle, J. R., Rodriguez, T., Jr, Maeta, M., Kubo, S., and Dessens, S. E. Studies of human granulocyte phagocytosis stimulation by tuftsin. J.Surg.Res. 1994;56(1):94-101. view abstract.
- Owais, M., Ahmed, I., Krishnakumar, B., Jain, R. K., Bachhawat, B. K., and Gupta, C. M. Tuftsin-bearing liposomes as drug vehicles in the treatment of experimental aspergillosis. FEBS Lett. 7-12-1993;326(1-3):56-58. view abstract.
- Paulesu, L., Di Stefano, A., Luzzi, E., Bocci, V., Silvestri, S., and Nencioni, L. Effect of tuftsin and its retro-inverso analogue on the release of interferon (IFN-gamma) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF-alpha) by human leucocytes. Immunol.Lett. 1992;34(1):7-11. view abstract.
- Phillips, J. H., Nishioka, K., and Babcock, G. F. Tuftsin-induced enhancement of murine and human natural cell-mediated cytotoxicity. Ann.N.Y.Acad.Sci. 1983;419:192-204. view abstract.
- Rocchi, R., Biondi, L., Filira, F., Tzehoval, E., Dagan, S., and Fridkin, M. Glyco-tuftsin derivatives modulate interleukin-1 and tumor necrosis factor production. Int.J.Pept.Protein Res. 1991;37(3):161-166. view abstract.
- Shoham, J., Cohen, M., Chandali, Y., and Avni, A. Thymic hormonal activity on human peripheral blood lymphocytes, in vitro. I. Reciprocal effect on T and B rosette formation. Immunology 1980;41(2):353-359. view abstract.
- Spirer, Z., Weisman, Y., Zakuth, V., Fridkin, M., and Bogair, N. Decreased serum tuftsin concentrations in sickle cell disease. Arch.Dis.Child 1980;55(7):566-567. view abstract.
- Spirer, Z., Zakuth, V., Diamant, S., Mondorf, W., Stefanescu, T., Stabinsky, Y., and Fridkin, M. Decreased tuftsin concentrations in patients who have undergone splenectomy. Br.Med.J. 12-17-1977;2(6102):1574-1576. view abstract.
- Spirer, Z., Zakuth, V., Tzehoval, E., Dagan, S., Fridkin, M., Golander, A., and Melamed, I. Tuftsin stimulates IL-1 production by human mononuclear cells, human spleen cells and mouse spleen cells in vitro. J.Clin.Lab Immunol. 1989;28(1):27-31. view abstract.
- Stabinsky, Y., Bar-Shavit, Z., Fridkin, M., and Goldman, R. On the mechanism of action of the phagocytosis-stimulating peptide tuftsin. Mol.Cell Biochem. 4-18-1980;30(2):71-77. view abstract.
- Stabinsky, Y., Fridkin, M., Zakuth, V., and Spirer, Z. Synthesis and biological activity of tuftsin and of [O = C Thr1]-tuftsin. A novel synthetic route to peptides containing N-terminal L -O = C Thr and L - O = C Ser residues. Int.J.Pept.Protein Res. 1978;12(3):130-138. view abstract.
- Surkis, R., Rubinraut, S., Dagan, S., Tzehoval, E., Fridkin, M., Ben Yoseph, R., and Catane, R. Polytuftsin: a potential precursor for slow release of the phagocytosis stimulating peptide tuftsin. Int.J.Biochem. 1990;22(2):193-195. view abstract.
- Trevisani, F., Castelli, E., Foschi, F. G., Parazza, M., Loggi, E., Bertelli, M., Melotti, C., Domenicali, M., Zoli, G., and Bernardi, M. Impaired tuftsin activity in cirrhosis: relationship with splenic function and clinical outcome. Gut 2002;50(5):707-712. view abstract.
- Val'dman, A. V., Bondarenko, N. A., Kozlovskaia, M. M., Rusakov, D. I., and Kalikhevich, V. N. [Comparative study of the psychotropic activity of tuftsin and its analogs]. Biull.Eksp.Biol.Med. 1982;93(4):49-52. view abstract.
- Val'dman, A. V., Kozlovskaia, M. M., Ashmarin, I. P., Mineeva, M. F., and Anokhin, K. V. [Central effects of the tetrapeptide tuftsin]. Biull.Eksp.Biol.Med. 1981;92(7):31-33. view abstract.
- Wagle, J. R., Ansevin, A. T., Dessens, S. E., and Nishioka, K. Specific translocation of tuftsin (Thr-Lys-Pro-Arg), a natural immunomodulating peptide, into the nuclei of human monocytes. Biochem.Biophys.Res.Commun. 3-31-1989;159(3):1147-1153. view abstract.
- Wiedermann, C. J., Niedermuhlbichler, M., Zilian, U., Geissler, D., Lindley, I., and Braunsteiner, H. Priming of normal human neutrophils by tachykinins: tuftsin-like inhibition of in vitro chemotaxis stimulated by formylpeptide or interleukin-8. Regul.Pept. 11-26-1991;36(3):359-368. View abstract.
- Wleklik, M. S., Luczak, M., and Najjar, V. A. Tuftsin induced tumor necrosis activity. Mol.Cell Biochem. 1987;75(2):169-174. view abstract.
- Zoli, G., Corazza, G. R., D'Amato, G., Bartoli, R., Baldoni, F., and Gasbarrini, G. Splenic autotransplantation after splenectomy: tuftsin activity correlates with residual splenic function. Br.J.Surg. 1994;81(5):716-718. view abstract.
- Zoli, G., Corazza, G. R., Wood, S., Bartoli, R., Gasbarrini, G., and Farthing, M. J. Impaired splenic function and tuftsin deficiency in patients with intestinal failure on long-term intravenous nutrition. Gut 1998;43(6):759-762. view abstract.
- Corazza GR, Zoli G, Ginaldi L, et al. Tuftsin deficiency in AIDS. Lancet 1991;337:12-3. View abstract.
- Fridkin M, Najjar VA. Tuftsin: its chemistry, biology, and clinical potential. Crit Rev Biochem Mol Biol 1989;24:1-40. view abstract.
- Lewis CJ. Letter to reiterate certain public health and safety concerns to firms manufacturing or importing dietary supplements that contain specific bovine tissues. FDA. Available at: www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/dspltr05.html.
- Murray MT. Encyclopedia of Nutritional Supplements. Rocklin, CA: Prima Health, 1996.
- Volk HD, Eckert R, Diamantstein T, Schmitz H. [Immunorestitutive action of hydrolysates and ultrafiltrates of bovine spleen]. Arzneimittelforschung 1991;41:1281-5. View abstract.