title: Immunological aspects of chitin and chitin derivatives administered to animals.
abstract: Chitosan amino groups are recognized by the immune system. Therefore, every derivative of chitin should be assayed immunologically if biomedical applications are sought. Macrophages are activated to various extents by chitin derivatives. Deacetylated chitin (30% deacetylation) and chitin sulfate stimulate the production of circulating antibodies. Accumulation of carboxymethyl chitin takes place in granulocytes and macrophages. These polysaccharides activate complement in analogy to zymosan. Intraperitoneal injection of N-acetylchitohexaose inhibits the growth of tumor cells and pathogens on a similar level as that of lentinan.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Engineering, Kansai University, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tokura
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tamura
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Azuma
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002240:Carbohydrate Sequence; D002686:Chitin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000276:immunology* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D008262:Macrophage Activation / Q000187:drug effects*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data
chemical_list: D002686:Chitin