The Comparative Immunotropic Activity of Carrageenan, Chitosan and Their Complexes.

Viktoriya N Davydova,Irina V Sorokina,Aleksandra V Volod’Ko,Ekaterina V Sokolova,Marina S Borisova,Irina M Yermak

doi:10.3390/md18090458

Abstract

The immunotropic activity of polyelectrolyte complexes (PEC) of κ-carrageenan (κ-CGN) and chitosan (CH) of various compositions was assessed in comparison with the initial polysaccharides in comparable doses. For this, two soluble forms of PEC, with an excess of CH (CH:CGN mass ratios of 10:1) and with an excess of CGN (CH: CGN mass ratios of 1:10) were prepared. The ability of PEC to scavenge NO depended on the content of the κ-CGN in the PEC. The ability of the PEC to induce the synthesis of pro-inflammatory (tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)) and anti-inflammatory (interleukine-10 (IL-10)) cytokines in peripheral blood mononuclear cell was determined by the activity of the initial κ-CGN, regardless of their composition. The anti-inflammatory activity of PEC and the initial compounds was studied using test of histamine-, concanavalin A-, and sheep erythrocyte immunization-induced inflammation in mice. The highest activity of PEC, as well as the initial polysaccharides κ-CGN and CH, was observed in a histamine-induced exudative inflammation, directly related to the activation of phagocytic cells, i.e., macrophages and neutrophils.

Highlights

Natural polysaccharides are promising compounds for use in biomedicine and pharmaceuticals.The main prerequisites for this are the combination of their abundance and simplicity of preparation with biocompatibility and a broad spectrum of biological effects, such as immunostimulating, antioxidant, antitumor, antimicrobial, and antiviral.One of the most well-known polysaccharides of red algae is carrageenan (CGN)
We have shown that chitosan with molecular weight of 110 kDa ex vivo inhibits the synthesis of anti-inflammatory cytokine, the tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) induced by endotoxin and stimulates synthesis of the anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukene (IL-10) by oral administration in the blood serum of mice [20]
The molecular weight (MW) of κ-CGN was determined by viscometry and was found to be 250 kDa

Summary

Introduction

Natural polysaccharides are promising compounds for use in biomedicine and pharmaceuticals.The main prerequisites for this are the combination of their abundance and simplicity of preparation with biocompatibility and a broad spectrum of biological effects, such as immunostimulating, antioxidant, antitumor, antimicrobial, and antiviral.One of the most well-known polysaccharides of red algae is carrageenan (CGN). CGN is a sulfated galactose copolymer composed of alternating units of D-galactose and 3,6-anhydro-galactose joined by α-1,3 and β-1,4-glycosidic linkages [1]. CGN is classified into various types such as λ, κ, ι, ε, μ, depending on the amount and location of sulfate groups as well as the presence or absence of 3,6-anhydro-galactose units [2]. CGNs have diverse activities including immunomodulatory [3], anticoagulant [4], antithrombotic [5], antiviral [6], and antitumor effects [7]. Standard animal safety studies in which CGN was administered in diet showed no adverse effects [9]. Due to their biocompatibility, safety (USP35-NF30S1, BP2012, EP7.0), availability, wide range

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