Schisandra polysaccharide evokes immunomodulatory activity through TLR 4-mediated activation of macrophages

Int J Biol Macromol. 2014 Apr:65:33-40. doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2014.01.018. Epub 2014 Jan 10.

Abstract

Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries. Previous studies have shown that Schisandra polysaccharide (SCPP11) has robust antitumor activity in vivo. In this study, the immunomodulatory activity and mechanisms of action of SCPP11 were investigated further to reveal its mechanism of action against tumors. Results showed that SCPP11 increased the thymus and spleen indices, pinocytic activity of peritoneal macrophages, and hemolysin formation in CTX-induced immunosuppressed mice. Moreover, SCPP11 significantly increased immunoglobulin levels, cytokines levels in vivo and induced RAW264.7 cells to secrete cytokines in vitro. RAW264.7 cells pretreated with SCPP11 significantly inhibited the proliferation of HepG-2 cells. In addition, SCPP11 promoted both the expression of iNOS protein and of iNOS and TNF-α mRNA. TLR-4 is a possible receptor for SCPP11-mediated macrophage activation. Therefore, the data suggest that SCPP11 exerted its antitumor activity by improving immune system functions through TLR-4-mediated up-regulation of NO and TNF-α.

Keywords: Cytokine; Immunomodulatory activity; Macrophage activation; Polysaccharide; Schisandra chinensis (Trucz.)Baill; TLR-4.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Body Weight / drug effects
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Cyclophosphamide / pharmacology
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic / drug effects
  • Hemolysin Proteins / blood
  • Immunoglobulins / blood
  • Immunologic Factors / pharmacology*
  • Interleukin-2 / blood
  • Macrophage Activation / drug effects*
  • Macrophages, Peritoneal / cytology
  • Macrophages, Peritoneal / drug effects*
  • Macrophages, Peritoneal / immunology*
  • Macrophages, Peritoneal / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / genetics
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / metabolism
  • Polysaccharides / pharmacology*
  • Schisandra / chemistry*
  • Spleen / drug effects
  • Spleen / immunology
  • Thymus Gland / drug effects
  • Thymus Gland / immunology
  • Toll-Like Receptor 4 / metabolism*
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / blood
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / genetics

Substances

  • Hemolysin Proteins
  • Immunoglobulins
  • Immunologic Factors
  • Interleukin-2
  • Polysaccharides
  • Tlr4 protein, mouse
  • Toll-Like Receptor 4
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • Cyclophosphamide
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II