Identification of a mouse serum protein increased by administration of an antitumor polysaccharide, PSK, as a variant of mouse transferrin and some of its biological activities

J Pharmacobiodyn. 1986 Feb;9(2):174-81. doi: 10.1248/bpb1978.9.174.

Abstract

One of the so-called LC components, the content of which is increased in the serum of PSK (antitumor polysaccharide) treated mice, was purified by repeated ion-exchange column chromatography on DEAE-Sephadex A-50. The purified protein, designated as LC-2, was identified as a variant of mouse transferrin, which is a serum beta 1-globulin having an iron-binding capacity. The absorption spectrum and ultraviolet circular dichroism (CD) curve of LC-2 were identical with those of mouse transferrin. The molecular weight, isoelectric point and amino acid composition of LC-2 were in good agreement with the results obtained previously for mouse transferrin. However, the carbohydrate content of LC-2 was different from that of mouse transferrin. This protein restored the depressed spleen cell response of tumor-bearing mice to concanavalin A (Con A) and promoted the metabolism of proteose-peptone induced peritoneal macrophages obtained from tumor-bearing mice. Furthermore, it had weak but definite antitumor activity against Sarcoma 180 cells in vivo.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / pharmacology*
  • Chromatography, Gas
  • Circular Dichroism
  • Concanavalin A / pharmacology
  • Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel
  • Female
  • Glucose / metabolism
  • Hemopexin / pharmacology
  • Hydrolysis
  • Isoelectric Point
  • Lymphocyte Activation / drug effects
  • Macrophages / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred DBA
  • Mice, Inbred ICR
  • Molecular Weight
  • Proteoglycans / pharmacology*
  • Sarcoma 180 / blood
  • Sarcoma 180 / immunology
  • Sarcoma, Experimental / blood
  • Sarcoma, Experimental / immunology
  • Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet
  • Transferrin / isolation & purification
  • Transferrin / metabolism*

Substances

  • Antibiotics, Antineoplastic
  • Proteoglycans
  • Transferrin
  • Concanavalin A
  • polysaccharide-K
  • Hemopexin
  • Glucose