title: In vitro activation of macrophages by a novel proteoglycan isolated from corms of Crocus sativus L.
abstract: Saffron corms contain a proteoglycan that is highly cytotoxic on human tumor cells. The present work was undertaken to study the possible immunomodulatory and anti-invasive properties of this compound. Non-cytotoxic concentrations of this glycoconjugate promoted significant macrophage activation, detected by the release of nitric oxide. A rapid activation of protein kinase C and NF-kappaB was obtained after proteoglycan treatment, which could explain the induction of nitric oxide synthase. Proteoglycan concentrations ranging from 10-1000 ng/ml specifically promoted apoptosis of macrophages, probably triggered by their activation. This molecule did not inhibit in vitro migration or invasion of human tumor cells. Altogether these results support a plausible immuno-modulating activity for this saffron Crocus compound.
authors.affiliation: Sección de Biotecnología IDR, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Albacete, Spain.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Escribano
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Díaz-Guerra
authors.forename: H H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Riese
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ontañón
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: García-Olmo
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: García-Olmo
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rubio
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Fernández
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D019668:Liliaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D008262:Macrophage Activation / Q000187:drug effects*; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000096:biosynthesis; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000096:biosynthesis; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D011493:Protein Kinase C / Q000502:physiology; D011509:Proteoglycans / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D016328:NF-kappa B; D011509:Proteoglycans; D009569:Nitric Oxide; C496319:NOS2 protein, human; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D011493:Protein Kinase C