Macrophage activation by the polysaccharide arabinogalactan isolated from plant cell cultures of Echinacea purpurea.
In this study, acidic arabinogalactan, a highly purified polysaccharide from plant cell cultures of Echinacea purpurea, with a molecular weight of 75,000, was effective in activating macrophages to cytotoxicity against tumor cells and micro-organisms (Leishmania enriettii). Furthermore, this polysaccharide induced macrophages to produce tumor necrosis factor (TNF-alpha), interleukin-1 (IL-1), and interferon-beta 2. Arabinogalactan did not activate B cells and did not induce T cells to produce interleukin-2, interferon-beta 2, or interferon-gamma, but it did induce a slight increase in T-cell proliferation. When injected ip, this agent stimulated macrophages, a finding that may have therapeutic implications in the defense against tumors and infectious diseases.
Luettig
B
B
Fraunhofer Institute für Toxikologie, Abt. Immunbiologie, Hannover, Federal Republic of Germany.
Steinmüller
C
C
Gifford
G E
GE
Wagner
H
H
Lohmann-Matthes
M L
ML
D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D005685:Galactans / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D008262:Macrophage Activation / Q000187:drug effects*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000187:drug effects; D010944:Plants / Q000032:analysis*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis
D005685:Galactans; D007370:Interferon Type I; D007375:Interleukin-1; D007376:Interleukin-2; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; C005653:arabinogalactan