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Black fly salivary gland extract inhibits proliferation and induces apoptosis in murine splenocytes

Black flies are known to be vectors of pathogens including Onchocerca volvulus, which causes human onchocerciasis, and Vesicular Stomatitis Virus. Their salivary secretion has been shown to contain a complex cocktail of anti‐haemostatic factors and immunomodulatory activities, which may contribute to efficient transmission of the pathogens. Black fly salivary gland extract (SGE) inhibits mitogen‐stimulated mouse splenocyte proliferation, including proliferation of both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. The factor responsible for the inhibition was determined to be a protein (or protein complex) of a size larger than 50 kDa. Moreover, exposure to SGE results in activation of caspase 3 and characteristic morphological changes in CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, suggesting that induction of apoptosis could, at least in part, be responsible for this inhibition.