title: Macrophage activation by polysaccharide biological response modifier isolated from Aloe vera L. var. chinensis (Haw.) Berg.
abstract: A mannose-rich polysaccharide biological response modifier (BRM), derived from Aloe vera L. var. chinensis (Haw.) Berg., was demonstrated to be a potent murine B- and T-cell stimulator in our previous study. We here report the stimulatory activity of PAC-I on murine peritoneal macrophage. The polysaccharide when injected into mice enhanced the migration of macrophages to the peritoneal cavity. Peritoneal macrophage when treated by PAC-I in vitro had increased expression of MHC-II and FcgammaR, and enhanced endocytosis, phagocytosis, nitric oxide production, TNF-alpha secretion and tumor cell cytotoxicity. The administration of PAC-I into allogeneic ICR mice stimulated systemic TNF-alpha production in a dose-dependent manner and prolonged the survival of tumor-bearing mice. PAC-I is thus a potent stimulator of murine macrophage and the in vitro observed tumoricidal properties of activated macrophage might account for the in vivo antitumor properties of PAC-I. Our research findings may have therapeutic implications in tumor immunotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong SAR, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: M Y K
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Leung
authors.forename: J C M
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Koon
authors.forename: L F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Y Z
authors.initials: YZ
authors.lastname: Hui
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: K P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Fung
mesh_terms: D000504:Aloe / Q000737:chemistry; D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008262:Macrophage Activation / Q000187:drug effects*; D017737:Macrophages, Peritoneal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000096:biosynthesis; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000187:drug effects; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017452:Receptors, IgG / Q000096:biosynthesis; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D011134:Polysaccharides; D017452:Receptors, IgG; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D009569:Nitric Oxide