Immunomodulation and antitumor activity of κ-carrageenan oligosaccharides

Yuan, Huamao; Song, Jinming; Li, Xuegang; Li, Ning; Dai, Jicui

doi:10.1016/j.canlet.2005.11.032

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Volume 243, Issue 2 , Pages 228-234, 18 November 2006

Immunomodulation and antitumor activity of κ-carrageenan oligosaccharides

Huamao Yuan
- Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 7 Nanchi Road, Qingdao, Shandong 266071, People's Republic of China
Jinming Song
- Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 7 Nanchi Road, Qingdao, Shandong 266071, People's Republic of China
- Corresponding author. Tel./fax: +86 532 289 8583.
Xuegang Li
- Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 7 Nanchi Road, Qingdao, Shandong 266071, People's Republic of China
Ning Li
- Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 7 Nanchi Road, Qingdao, Shandong 266071, People's Republic of China
- The Graduate School of the Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing 100039, People's Republic of China
Jicui Dai
- Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 7 Nanchi Road, Qingdao, Shandong 266071, People's Republic of China
- The Graduate School of the Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing 100039, People's Republic of China

Received 23 August 2005; received in revised form 2 November 2005; accepted 27 November 2005.

Abstract

The modulation of carrageenan oligosaccharides from Kappaphycus striatum on the immune system in S180-bearing mice was investigated. The mice inoculated with S180 cell suspension were treated p.o. with carrageenan oligosaccharides (50, 100 and 200μg/g) for 14 days. The effects of carrageenan oligosaccharides on transplantable tumors and macrophage phagocytosis, quantitative hemolysis of sheep red blood cells (QHS), lymphocyte proliferation, the activity of natural killer cells (NK), production of interleukin-2 (IL-2) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were studied. Carrageenan oligosaccharides could significantly inhibit the growth of transplantable sarcoma S180 and increase macrophage phagocytosis, the form of antibody secreted by spleen cells, spleen lymphocyte proliferation, NK cells activity, serumal IL-2 and TNF-α level in S180-bearing mice. Considering all these results, it is suggested that carrageenan oligosaccharides exert their antitumor effect by promoting the immune system.