title: Effect of chondroitin sulfate on murine splenocytes sensitized with ovalbumin.
abstract: Chondroitin sulfate (CS) is a glycosaminoglycan that is widely present in animals organisms, and it has anti-inflammatory and chondroprotective properties. To examine the effects of CS on the immune system, splenocytes obtained from ovalbumin (OVA)-sensitized BALB/c mice were challenged with OVA in the presence of CS, and cytokine levels in the medium of the cultured cells were measured. CS induced secretion of Th1-type cytokines (IFN-gamma, IL-2, and IL-12) by OVA-sensitized splenocytes but suppressed secretion of Th2-type cytokines (IL-5 and IL-10). Flow cytometric assay showed a significantly higher percentage of helper T cells (CD4(+)CD8(-) cells) among the splenocytes cultured with OVA and CS than with OVA alone. Analysis of the IFN-gamma mRNA level of the splenocytes by the real-time quantitative RT-PCR technique revealed higher levels in the splenocytes cultured with OVA and CS than in the splenocytes cultured with OVA alone. This is the first demonstration that CS inhibits antigen-induced IgE production through induction of cytokine secretion by Th1 cells, and this finding suggests a potential use of CS in preventing IgE-mediated allergy.
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chiba University, 1-33, Yayoi-cho, Inage-ku, Chiba 263-8522, Japan.
authors.forename: Shinobu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sakai
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Akiyama
authors.forename: Naoki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Harikai
authors.forename: Hidenao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Toyoda
authors.forename: Toshihiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Toida
authors.forename: Tamio
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Maitani
authors.forename: Toshio
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Imanari
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002809:Chondroitin Sulfates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D005110:Extracellular Space / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000187:drug effects; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010047:Ovalbumin / Q000494:pharmacology; D010641:Phenotype; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013154:Spleen / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D010047:Ovalbumin; D002809:Chondroitin Sulfates