Polysaccharides extracted from various sources are natural active substances, which may lead to the activation of macrophage via multiple pathways and mechanisms. This article intends to illustrate the signaling pathways of polysaccharides from plants, fungi, algae and other sources, to identify the mechanisms on the molecular level, and to explore the novel target immunomodulatory agents.
Animals ; Humans ; Macrophage Activation ; drug effects ; immunology ; Macrophages ; drug effects ; immunology ; metabolism ; Polysaccharides ; pharmacology ; Signal Transduction

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of pretreatment with puerarin on activation of LPS -induced RAW264. 7 cells and secretory cytokines, and discuss its anti-inflammatory mechanism.

METHODWell-grown RAW264. 7 cells in the exponential phase were collected and randomly divided them into the blank control group, the LPS group and the puerarin pretreatment + LPS group. The cellular toxic effect of puerarin on RAW264. 7 cells was examined by CCK-8 assay, cell morphology was detected by Giemsa stain method, the changes in TNF-alpha and MIP-2 were tested by ELISA, and the expression of NF-kappaB p65 mRNA were determined by qRT-PCR.

RESULTSWhen puerarin was cultured with 1 mg x L(-1) LPS at a concentration of lower than 400 micromol x L(-1), it had not showed the cellular toxic effect (P < 0.05). Compared with the control group, the LPS group could significantly change the morphology of RAW264. 7 cells (increase in cell body, irregular shape, with a large number of pseudopodia extending). After intervention, the puerarin 100 micromol x L(-1) group could significantly inhibit LPS-induced cell morphological changes, while the puerarin 200 micromol x L(-1) and 400 micromol x L(-1) puerarin groups showed more notable inhibitory effects. However, there was no obvious difference between the two groups. The pretreatment with puerarin could inhibit the expression of TNF-alpha and MIP-2 in cell supernatant and NF-kappaB p65 mRNA in cells (P < 0.05). With increase in the puerarin concentration, its inhibitory effect gradually grew (P < 0.05), but did not reach the level of the blank control group.

CONCLUSIONAs a safe and effective natural anti-inflammatory drug, puerarin can significantly reduce the expression of inflammatory cytokines (TNF-alpha, MIP-2). Its mechanism may be related to the reduction of NF-kappaB p65 mRNA expression.

Animals ; Cell Line ; Isoflavones ; pharmacology ; Lipopolysaccharides ; immunology ; Macrophage Activation ; drug effects ; Macrophages ; drug effects ; immunology ; Mice ; NF-kappa B ; genetics ; immunology ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Sincalide ; genetics ; immunology ; Transcription Factor RelA ; genetics ; immunology ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; genetics ; immunology

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of immune complexes (IC) prepared from human oxidized density lipoprotein (oxLDL) antibodies and human oxLDL on the foam cell forming and the macrophage activation, and to further uncover the possible mechanisms of immune complexes contributing to the atherosclerosis occurrence. METHODS: The immune complexes of human oxLDL and purified human oxLDL antibodies were added to culture U937 cells by protocols: polyethylene glycol-precipitated insoluble IC (PEG-IC) and IC immobilized by absorption to red blood cells (RBC-IC). With oxLDL as controls and heat-aggregated gamma globulin as an inhibitor of Fc gamma receptor, we measured the cholesterol ester, total cholesterol of the cellular extracts, and quantified the secreted MMP-1 of supernatants from U937 cells. RESULTS: A significant increase of MMP-1 release [(0.769 +/- 0.030) ng/ml vs (0.513 +/- 0.034) ng/ml, P < 0.01] and a higher level of cholesterol ester accumulation [(20.271 +/- 1.668) microg/mg protein vs (17. 226 +/- 1.298 ) microg/mg protein, P < 0.05] in U937 cells incubated with RBC-IC were observed, compared with those incubated with RBC-oxLDL. However, the above quantative difference between the cholesterol ester accumulation induced by oxLDL and insoluble PEG-IC was even more striking, and cholesterol ester accumulation was dosage-dependent. Heat-aggregated gamma globulin (10 mg/ml) as an inhibitor of Fc gamma receptors competitively inhibited cholesterol ester accumulation and decreased PEG-IC stimulating MMP-1 secretion to 71%. CONCLUSION Immune complexe of ox-LDL can transform macrophages into foam cells and activted macrophages. The immunological function of oxLDL is involved in the process of atherosclerosis occurrence.
Antibodies ; pharmacology ; Atherosclerosis ; etiology ; metabolism ; Cholesterol Esters ; metabolism ; Foam Cells ; drug effects ; Humans ; Lipoproteins, LDL ; immunology ; pharmacology ; Macrophage Activation ; drug effects ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 1 ; biosynthesis ; U937 Cells

Radix Adenophorae, a traditional Chinese medicine, has been reported to have a variety of biological functions. In the present study, a polysaccharide component, Radix Adenophorae Polysaccharide (RAPS), was purified from Radix Adenophorae by decoloring with ADS-7 macroporous adsorption resin, DEAE-52 cellulose ion-exchange chromatography, and Sephacryl S-300HR gel chromatography, with the purity of 98.3% and a molecular weight of 1.8 × 10(4) Da. The cell viability assay and microscopic examination revealed that RAPS promoted the proliferation and activation of macrophages. At 400 μg·mL(-1), RAPS stimulated RAW264.7 cell proliferation by 1.91-fold compared with the control. Meanwhile, RAPS significantly increased the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and IL-6) in a dose-dependent manner in the supernatant of RAW264.7 cell culture as determined by ELISA. At 400 μg·mL(-1), the production of TNF-iα was 20.8-fold higher than that of the control. Simultaneously, the production of nitric oxide (NO) and the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) were increased in RAW264.7 cells incubated with RAPS, as measured by Griess assay and Western blot analysis. The NO production of cells treated with RAPS (400 μg·mL(-1)) reached 15.8 μmol·L(-1), which was 30.4-fold higher than that of the control (0.53 μmol·L(-1)). These data suggested that RAPS may enhance the immune function and protect against exogenous pathogens by activating macrophages.
Animals ; Campanulaceae ; chemistry ; Cytokines ; genetics ; immunology ; Immunologic Factors ; pharmacology ; Interleukin-6 ; genetics ; immunology ; Macrophage Activation ; drug effects ; Macrophages ; drug effects ; immunology ; Mice ; Nitric Oxide ; immunology ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Polysaccharides ; pharmacology ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; genetics ; immunology

Development of alternatively activated (M2) macrophage phenotypes is a complex process that is coordinately regulated by a plethora of pathways and factors. Here, we report that RBP-J, a DNA-binding protein that integrates signals from multiple pathways including the Notch pathway, is critically involved in polarization of M2 macrophages. Mice deficient in RBP-J in the myeloid compartment exhibited impaired M2 phenotypes in vivo in a chitin-induced model of M2 polarization. Consistent with the in vivo findings, M2 polarization was partially compromised in vitro in Rbpj-deficient macrophages as demonstrated by reduced expression of a subset of M2 effector molecules including arginase 1. Functionally, myeloid Rbpj deficiency impaired M2 effector functions including recruitment of eosinophils and suppression of T cell proliferation. Collectively, we have identified RBP-J as an essential regulator of differentiation and function of alternatively activated macrophages.
Animals ; Cell Polarity ; drug effects ; genetics ; immunology ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; genetics ; Chitin ; immunology ; pharmacology ; Eosinophils ; cytology ; immunology ; Gene Expression Regulation ; drug effects ; immunology ; Immunoglobulin J Recombination Signal Sequence-Binding Protein ; genetics ; immunology ; Macrophage Activation ; drug effects ; genetics ; Macrophages ; cytology ; immunology ; Mice ; Mice, Transgenic ; T-Lymphocytes ; cytology ; immunology

To observe the proliferation of T lymphocytes stimulated by CML and AML cells which were induced by rhGM-CSF and rhIL-4, and the secretion of IFN-gamma from proliferated T lymphocytes, the expression of CD80, CD86 and HLA-DR on CML and AML cells induced by GM-CSF and IL-4 was assayed by flow cytometry in vitro. Then one-way mixed lymphocyte reaction was carried out, with induced leukemia cells as stimulating cells and auto-T lymphocytes as reactive cells. The secretion of IFN-gamma from T lymphocytes was determined by double antibody sandwich ELISA. The results showed that GM-CSF and IL-4 significantly upregulated the expression of CD80, CD86 and HLA-DR on CML cells and CD80 and CD86 on AML cells, which could stimulate the T lymphocyte proliferation and high secretion of IFN-gamma (in CML group) of autologous T lymphocytes. It is concluded that the CML and AML cells induced by GM-CSF and IL-4 have the ability to present tumor specific antigen to auto-T lymphocyte.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Interferon-gamma ; biosynthesis ; Interleukin-4 ; pharmacology ; Leukemia, Myeloid ; immunology ; Lymphocyte Activation ; drug effects ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Recombinant Proteins ; pharmacology ; T-Lymphocytes ; drug effects ; immunology

Traumatic injury of the central nervous system (CNS) including brain and spinal cord remains a leading cause of morbidity and disability in the world. Delineating the mechanisms underlying the secondary and persistent injury versus the primary and transient injury has been drawing extensive attention for study during the past few decades. The sterile neuroinflammation during the secondary phase of injury has been frequently identified substrate underlying CNS injury, but as of now, no conclusive studies have determined whether this is a beneficial or detrimental role in the context of repair. Recent pioneering studies have demonstrated the key roles for the innate and adaptive immune responses in regulating sterile neuroinflammation and CNS repair. Some promising immunotherapeutic strategies have been recently developed for the treatment of CNS injury. This review updates the recent progress on elucidating the roles of the innate and adaptive immune responses in the context of CNS injury, the development and characterization of potential immunotherapeutics, as well as outstanding questions in this field.
Adaptive Immunity ; Astrocytes ; physiology ; Brain Injuries, Traumatic ; immunology ; therapy ; Histone Deacetylases ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Immunity, Innate ; immunology ; Immunotherapy ; methods ; Inflammasomes ; drug effects ; physiology ; Macrophage Activation ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; immunology ; therapy

OBJECTIVETo investigate nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB) activation induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in rat peritoneal macrophages (PMAs) and the inhibitory effect of resveratrol on NF-kappaB activation.

METHODSPMAS from normal SD rats were randomly divided into 7 groups, including a control group, a LPS group and 5 resveratrol groups (I-V). PMAs of the control group were incubated in DMEM, and those in LPS group in DMEM containing LPS (10 microg/ml). PMAS of resveratrol groups I-V were incubated in DMEM containing LPS (10 microg/ml) and different concentrations of resveratrol. After 24 h of incubation, NF-kappaB activation in the PMAs was determined, and the expression levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-1 (IL-1) and nitric oxide (NO) in the culture medium were measured.

RESULTSExposure to LPS resulted in an excessive enhancement of cytokine and NO expressions in the PMAs. Resveratrol at 1.25-10 microg/ml produced a dose- dependent inhibition of cytokine and NO expressions and on NF-kappaB activation in LPS-stimulated PMAs.

CONCLUSIONResveratrol can inhibit LPS-induced NF-kappaB activation in rat PMAs and subsequently suppress the expressions of TNF-alpha, IL-1 and NO.

Animals ; Cytokines ; metabolism ; Lipopolysaccharides ; pharmacology ; Macrophage Activation ; drug effects ; Macrophages, Peritoneal ; drug effects ; immunology ; metabolism ; Male ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Stilbenes ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the influence of low doses of granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor on the allogeneic antigen (Ag) ingestion capacity of immature dendritic cells (GM low DC), and subsequently the changes in the cellular phenotype and function.

METHODSMononuclear cells from C57BL/6 mice was labelled with 3H-Leu to make Ag supernatant. The Ag supernatant was cocultured with GM low DC or mature DC for 30,60 and 90 mins, then cpm value were determined. The changes in I(A)/I(E) and CD80 on cell surface after antigen ingestion were determined with flow cytometry (FCM). By using mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR), the cells were divided into control (non-sensitized T lymphocyte), GM low DC, GM low DC and allogeneic antigen, GM low DC and allogeneic antigen and CTLA-4 Ig groups. The cpm value in each group was recorded and the stimulation index (SI) was calculated.

RESULTSUpon 30, 60 and 90 mins of allogeneic Ag stimulation, the cpm value of GM low DC was obviously higher than that of mature DC (P < 0.05 or 0.01). In addition, the expression of I(A)/I(E) and CD80 before allogeneic Ag ingestion were significantly higher than those after Ag ingestion (I(A)/I(E): 32 +/- 8% vs. 54 +/- 10, P < 0.05; CD80: 25 +/- 10% vs. 71 +/- 18%, P < 0.01). MLR: Compared with control group, the cpm value in GM low DC with allogeneic Ag group was increased markedly (P < 0.05), with SI higher than 2.0, while no difference was found among control, GM low DC group, GM low DC and allogeneic Ag and CTLA-4Ig groups (P > 0.05), with SI lower than 2.0

CONCLUSIONThough GM low DC exhibits powerful antigen ingestion capacity, the cell phenotype and function will get mature gradually. Immune tolerance can be established by incubating GM low DC with CTLA-4Ig.

Abatacept ; Animals ; Antigens ; immunology ; Dendritic Cells ; cytology ; immunology ; Female ; Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Immune Tolerance ; drug effects ; Immunoconjugates ; pharmacology ; Lymphocyte Activation ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL

OBJECTIVETo investigate the influence of maturative agents, including lipopolysaccharide (LPS), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and interferon gamma(IFN-gamma) on the maturation of immature dendritic cells originated from murine bone marrow induced by low dose of granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor (rm GM-CSF).

METHODSDendritic cells from murine bone marrow progenitors were cultured in low and high doses of GM-CSF for 6 days, and then the suspending cells were harvested for the experiment. After 3 days of co-culture of the obtained DC with low dose rmGM-CSF (GM(low)DC) with LPS, TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma, the stimulatory capacity of inducing proliferation of non-sensitized splenocytes of GM(low)DC in mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) was observed and compared with that of GM(high)DC.

RESULTSGM(low)DC could not activate the non-sensitized splenocytes or induce it into proliferation after 3 days of co-incubation with LPS, TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma, with the stimulation index (SI) lower than 2. Whereas GM(high)DC could strongly activate naive splenocytes (SI = 4.71).

CONCLUSIONGM(low)DC was resistant to maturation and insensitive to the stimulation by LPS, TNF-alpha or IFN-gamma.

Animals ; Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; immunology ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Dendritic Cells ; drug effects ; immunology ; Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor ; pharmacology ; Interferon-alpha ; pharmacology ; Lipopolysaccharides ; pharmacology ; Lymphocyte Activation ; Lymphocyte Culture Test, Mixed ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Spleen ; cytology ; immunology ; T-Lymphocytes ; cytology ; immunology ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; pharmacology