Stimulation of T-cell locomotion in an in vitro assay by various Viscum album L. preparations (Iscador (R))

Mistletoe preparations (Viscum album L.) are widely used in complementary m edicine as an adjuvant therapy in cancer treatment The immunomodulatory eff ects of mistletoe holoextracts have been described and seem to depend on th e host free, the manufacturing process and the composition of different com ponents present in the preparations. We have recently shown that noncytotox ic concentrations of a mistletoe extract namely Iscador(R) QuFrF (charge no . 209/3093), induce T-cell locomotion within a three-dimensional collagen-b ased migration assay. In this study we extended our investigations confront ing T-cells within collagen lattices with two other mistletoe preparations Iscador(R) QuFrF (charge no. 509/6057) and Iscador(R) Qu spezial (charge no . 604/7092) to assess their potential to enhance T-cell locomotion and to d efine further the molecular mechanisms underlying the promigratory effect. Our data imply (i) that mistletoe preparations per se are strong stimuli of T-cell migration in vitro and (ii) that their migration-inducing potential cannot be correlated with the lectin nor viscotoxin content. Our study thu s strengthens the holistic approach of mistletoe therapy against cancer.