Chitosan Oligosaccharide Exerts Anti-Allergic Effect against Shrimp Tropomyosin-Induced Food Allergy by Affecting Th1 and Th2 Cytokines

Abstract

Background: Shrimp-derived allergen has a serious impact on people’s health. Chitosan oligosaccharide (COS) has anti-allergic action but its function on shrimp allergen-induced allergy and related molecular mechanisms remain unclear. Methods: COS and its degrees of polymerization (DP) were selected to interact with shrimp tropomyosin (TM) and IgE was measured. A mouse model of food allergy was established by receiving shrimp TM intraperitoneally. The models were treated with different concentrations of COS. Fecal and serum histamine, serum IgE, IgG1 and IgG2a, and inflammatory cytokines were measured. Results: The main products for COS were DP2–6 with the contents of 6, 40, 26, 16, and 4%, respectively, and reacted with shrimp TM increasingly when COS DP was increased. Severe symptoms of food allergy were observed in the TM group (diarrhea, anaphylactic response, and rectal temperature). In contrast, COS treatment improved these symptoms significantly (p < 0.05). The sensitized mice were desensitized after they were treated with 1 mg/kg COS. COS treatment significantly reduced serum IgE and IgG1 levels, and increased IgG2a levels (p < 0.05). COS consumption decreased fecal and serum histamine. COS treatment reduced Th2 cytokine (IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13) levels and increased the Th1 cytokine (IFN-γ) level (p < 0.05). Conclusions: COS showed anti-allergy properties by regulating the levels of Th1 and Th2 cytokines.