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.
Han
S B
SB
Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Yusong, Taejon, South Korea.
Kim
Y H
YH
Lee
C W
CW
Park
S M
SM
Lee
H Y
HY
Ahn
K S
KS
Kim
I H
IH
Kim
H M
HM
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