Role of various carrageenans in autologous and allogenic mixed lymphocyte reaction

Effects of acetate on human immune system

The immunopharmacologic effects of Ringer's acetate on healthy persons and cancer patients were investigated. Enhancement of in vivo polyclonal antibody production in peripheral blood lymphocytes from healthy subjects and cancer patients was elicited after the intravenous administration of 500 ml Ringer's acetate solution. Allogeneic mixed lymphocyte reaction(MLR) and natural killer(NK) activity were also increased in the majority of healthy individuals and cancer patients when administered Ringer's acetate solution but not Ringer's lactate solution.

Antiangiogenic effect of sulphated and nonsulphated glycosaminoglycans and polysaccharides in the chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane

The inhibiting effect of sulphated and nonsulphated glycosaminoglycans and polysaccharides on the normal outgrowth of capillaries was tested in the chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) with and without the presence of hydrocortisone. An antiangiogenic response to 50 micrograms of heparin and heparan sulphate (without hydrocortisone present) was observed in 38.8% and 23.1% of the CAMs, respectively, while the antiangiogenic response rate for dermatan sulphate, chondroitin sulphate A or C, hyaluronic acid and keratan sulphate was 15.9-0%. All sulphated homopolysaccharides tested were more effective than the naturally occurring glycosaminoglycans. Nonsulphated dextran and (methyl) cellulose had no antiangiogenic effect, while largely desulphated heparin retained such an effect. Hydrocortisone generally improved the antiangiogenic effect, a 100% response was obtained when it was combined with cellulose sulphate or fucoidan (polyfucose sulphate derived from marine algae), but the antiangiogenic effect of the largely desulphated heparin was unaffected by the presence of hydrocortisone. The results show that different polysulphated polysaccharides also have an antiangiogenic effect, without the addition of corticosteroids. The effect was apparently independent of their degree of sulphation, but the glycosidic structure may be of critical importance.

Immunopharmacological study of sulfated schizophyllan (SPG). I.--Its action as a mitogen and anti-HIV agent

Sulfated schizophyllans of differing sulfur content were prepared and their mitogenic activities and effects on human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) were investigated in vitro. The sulfated schizophyllans were found to possess mitogenic activity. Anti-viral activity was evaluated in terms of cytopathic effect, and by the fluorescence antibody technique, reverse transcriptase assay and cell proliferation assay. Schizophyllans with a higher sulfur content showed potent anti-HIV effects on Molt-4 clone No. 8 or MT-4 cells infected with HIV as well as on lymphocytes from AIDS patients. It is suggested that the sulfur content of schizophyllans is the most important factor for inhibiting growth of HIV, rather than molecular weight or kinds of sugar component. Thus, sulfated schizophyllans appear applicable as anti-HIV drugs.

In vivo depletion of macrophages by desulfated iota-carrageenan in mice

Almost 90% of the sulfate groups of iota-carrageenan (CGN) was removed with acid-methanol in an attempt to obtain a product which would selectively eliminate macrophages in mice. Desulfated CGN(DS-CGN) failed to induce in vivo polyclonal antibody production in DBA/2 mice. However, the number of phagocytes in the peritoneal cavity, spleen, thymus and lymph node of DBA/2 mice was reduced stringently by DS-CGN treatment. The number of Mac-1 positive cells(macrophages) in DS-CGN-treated mice gradually decreased for at least 7 days after the last injection of DS-CGN. In contrast, the relative proportion of T and B lymphocytes in the lymphoid organs was unaffected by DS-CGN treatment. DS-CGN suppressed antibody responses to SRBC, a T cell and macrophage-dependent antigen, but no such suppressive effect was observed in the polyclonal antibody responses to LPS, a T cell and macrophage-independent B cell activator. Furthermore, the impaired SRBC antibody responses in DS-CGN-treated mice were restored following transfer of adherent cells but not T cells. These experimental results indicate that DS-CGN selectively eliminates macrophages without influencing lymphocyte function in vivo.

Further characterization of sulfated homopolysaccharides as anti-HIV agents

Fucoidan and dextran sulfate showed anti-HIV activities against mononuclear cells from AIDS patients, and they abrogated HIV reverse transcriptase (RT) activity by interacting with the HIV envelope in the membranes of target cells. Furthermore, they showed a synergistic effect with azidothymidine (AZT).

Articular responses to purified cartilage proteoglycans

To examine whether proteoglycans (PGs) liberated from cartilage might contribute to articular changes in arthritis, cartilage PGs were injected intraarticularly into rabbit knee joints. Twice-weekly injections of PG (2.5 mg) provoked synovial hypertrophy, synovitis, erosion of the articulating surfaces, and loss of metachromasia of the articular cartilage. These changes were accompanied by a marked elevation in the production of neutral collagenase and gelatinase by both synoviocytes and chondrocytes. The synoviocytes of experimental knee joints also produced factor(s), possibly related to interleukin-1, which provoked the activation of chondrocytes. Our data are consistent with the idea that free PG fragments mediate some of the pathophysiologic changes that occur in arthritic joints. This property may be particularly important in osteoarthritis.

Effect of carrageenan on the histology of the bursa of fabricius and the humoral immune response to Salmonella O antigen

Bursal secretory cells have been studied with light and electron microscope after prolonged carrageenan treatment. Intravenous injected carrageenan decreased the number of secretory cells as early as 4 days after the first carrageenan administration. Degranulation of the secretory cells may have made it difficult to identify these cells. The discharge of granules from the secretory cells was indicated by the appearance of a large amount of extracellular substance on the cell surface. The carrageenan may have accelerated the IgM-IgG switch after immunization with Salmonella O antigen. The rapid IgM-IgG switch was preceded by degranulations of the secretory cells. Therefore, the secretory products of the cells might have contributed to the switch. The number of secretory cells in the carrageenan-treated birds increased by the secondary immunization. Many of these secretory cells were immature and located close to the corticomedullary border. The young cells revealed a large blastlike nucleus and bulky cytoplasm with granules surrounding the cytocentrum and Golgi zone.

Carrageenan-induced suppression of T-lymphocyte proliferation in the rat: abrogation of suppressor factor production by the prostaglandin synthesis inhibitors, indomethacin and ETYA

Carrageenan, an algal polygalactan reputed to be selectively toxic for macrophages, is widely employed as a tool to dissect pathways of cell-mediated immunity. In the present study, corn oil-elicited rat peritoneal macrophages after 72 h culture with 10 micrograms/ml Seakem 9 Carrageenan secreted a soluble suppressor factor capable of abrogating T-cell activation by phytohemagglutinin-P (PHA). Addition of the prostaglandin synthesis inhibitors Indomethacin or 5,8,11,14-eicosatetraynoic acid (ETYA) prevented inhibitor synthesis by Carrageenan-conditioned macrophages. Seakem 9 and lambda Carrageenans added directly into spleen cell cultures failed to diminish lymphocyte proliferation, but rather stimulated spleen cell division. Macrophages cultured with low concentrations of Carrageenan appeared to be activated on the basis of enhanced tumoristatic capacity against Schmidt-Ruppin sarcoma cells. Thus, macrophages activated by low concentrations of Carrageenan in vitro appear to secrete a product of arachidonic acid metabolism which is a potent inhibitor of PHA-induced spleen cell mitogenesis.