title: Activation of professional antigen presenting cells by acharan sulfate isolated from giant African snail, Achatina fulica.
abstract: Acharan sulfate isolated from the giant African snail, Achatina fulica, has been reported to have antitumor activity in vivo. In an effort to determine the mechanisms of its antitumor activity, we examined the effects of acharan sulfate on professional antigen presenting cells (APCs). Acharan sulfate increased the phagocytic activity, the production of cytokines such as TNF-alpha and IL-1beta, and the release of nitric oxide on a macrophage cell line, Raw 264.7 cells. In addition, acharan sulfate induced phenotypic and functional maturation of immature dendritic cells (DCs). Immature DCs cultured with acharan sulfate expressed higher levels of class II MHC molecules and major co-stimulatory molecules such as B7-1, B7-2, and CD40. Functional maturation of immature DCs cultured in the presence of acharan sulfate was confirmed by the increased allostimulatory capacity and IL-12 production. These results suggest that the antitumor activity of acharan sulfate is partly due to the activation of professional antigen presenting cells.
authors: College of Pharmacy, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 361-763, Korea.
authors: Hyun-Sun
authors: HS
authors: Kim
authors: Young-Hee
authors: YH
authors: Lee
authors: Young-Ran
authors: YR
authors: Lee
authors: Sun-A
authors: SA
authors: Im
authors: Jae-Kwon
authors: JK
authors: Lee
authors: Yeong Shik
authors: YS
authors: Kim
authors: Joon-Soo
authors: JS
authors: Sim
authors: Hyung Seok
authors: HS
authors: Choi
authors: Chong-Kil
authors: CK
authors: Lee
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D012908:Snails / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans; D007155:Immunologic Factors; C106771:acharan sulfate