Characteristic immunostimulation by angelan isolated from Angelica gigas Nakai.
The immunopharmacological characteristics of angelan, a polysaccharide purified from Angelica gigas Nakai, were investigated in relation to the specificity to immune cells. The treatment of angelan increased the expression of IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, and IFN-gamma. The expression of IL-6 and IFN-gamma was rapidly augmented but that of IL-2 responded later. In the case of IL-4, angelan stimulated at early time after exposure but down-regulated thereafter. These results suggested that macrophages and natural killer cells involved in nonspecific immunity were primarily activated and helper T cells were secondarily affected by angelan. Angelan also had lympho-proliferative potential to B cells, specifically. The specificity of angelan was also elucidated in a cell fractionation experiment. The activated B cells by angelan also increased antibody production. The direct activation of B cells, macrophages, and accessory cells and the indirect activation of helper T cells coordinately increased immune functions such as in vitro and in vivo T-dependent immunization and antibody production. The experiment of host resistance to syngeneic tumors also showed that angelan potentiated the immune functions. In conclusion, angelan, a purified polysaccharide from an oriental herbal drug, showed characteristic immunostimulation, which was different from clinically used polysaccharides such as lentinan and PSK.
Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Yusong, Taejon, South Korea.
S B
SB
Han
Y H
YH
Kim
C W
CW
Lee
S M
SM
Park
H Y
HY
Lee
K S
KS
Ahn
I H
IH
Kim
H M
HM
Kim
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000737:chemistry; D015536:Down-Regulation; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D007723:Korea; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D010948:Viral Plaque Assay
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D016207:Cytokines; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D007376:Interleukin-2; D015850:Interleukin-6; D011134:Polysaccharides; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma