title: Isolation of three high molecular weight polysaccharide preparations with potent immunostimulatory activity from Spirulina platensis, aphanizomenon flos-aquae and Chlorella pyrenoidosa.
abstract: This research describes the identification of three new high molecular weight polysaccharide preparations isolated from food-grade microalgae that are potent activators of human monocytes/macrophages: "Immulina" from Spirulina platensis, "Immunon" from Aphanizomenon flos-aquae, and "Immurella" from Chlorella pyrenoidosa. These polysaccharides are structurally complex and have estimated molecular weights above ten million daltons. All three polysaccharides are highly water soluble and comprise between 0.5 % and 2.0 % of microalgal dry weight. Immunostimulatory activity was measured using a transcription factor-based bioassay for nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappa B) activation in THP-1 human monocytes/macrophages. Using this system the EC(50) values for these microalgal polysaccharides are between 20 and 110 ng/ml (about 10pM). THP-1 activation was confirmed by measuring immune cytokine mRNA induction using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Each polysaccharide substantially increased mRNA levels of interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha). These polysaccharides are between one hundred and one thousand times more active for in vitro monocyte activation than polysaccharide preparations that are currently used clinically for cancer immunotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmacy, University of Mississippi, University, Mississippi 38677, USA.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pugh
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Ross
authors.forename: H N
authors.initials: HN
authors.lastname: ElSohly
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: ElSohly
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Pasco
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002708:Chlorella / Q000737:chemistry*; D000458:Cyanobacteria / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D008970:Molecular Weight; D009000:Monocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000276:immunology; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000494:pharmacology; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; C459207:Immulina; C459208:Immunon; C459209:Immurella; D007375:Interleukin-1; D016328:NF-kappa B; D028321:Plant Preparations; D011134:Polysaccharides; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha