A protein-bound polysaccharide synergistic with lipopolysaccharide induces nitric oxide release and antioxidant enzyme activities in mouse peritoneal macrophages.

Abstract

The aim of this study is to examine whether polysaccharide krestin, a protein-bound polysaccharide, can prevent the progression of atherosclerosis and lipoperoxidative injury caused by oxidatively modified low density lipoprotein (Ox-LDL) to macrophages. The alterations of GSHPx (glutathione peroxidase), SOD (superoxide dismutase) activity and NO (nitric oxide) release in PSK-treated mouse peritoneal macrophages, and the effect of LPS on them were investigated. With peritoneal injection of PSK, the following were observed in the mouse peritoneal macrophages: 1) an increase in SeGSHPx activity, 2) elevation in non-SeGSHPx and SOD activity; 3) the enzyme activities were further improved by addition of lipopolysaccharide (LPS); and 4) much NO was found to be released by PSK-treated mouse peritoneal macrophages stimulated by LPS.