title: Fucoidan stimulation induces a functional maturation of human monocyte-derived dendritic cells.
abstract: Fucoidan is a complex sulfated polysaccharide with a wide variety of biological activities for modulating immune cell functions. However, the effects of fucoidan on maturation process and activation of human monocyte-derived dendritic cells (DCs) remain to be elucidated. The present study demonstrated that the level of special marks and polarization phenotype of DCs was altered by fucoidan. Human monocytes were cultured with GM-CSF and IL-4 for 5 days followed by another 2 days in the presence of fucoidan or LPS. Then DCs were harvested on day 7 and were examined using functional assays. We demonstrated that fucoidan up-regulated the expression of HLA-DR and co-stimulatory molecules of DCs. However the endocytic activity was impaired markedly. Fucoidan induces their Th1-promoting tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-12 (IL-12) secretion, and enhances their allostimulatory capacity. In an allogeneic MLR assay, DCs treated with fucoidan were potent in the secretion of IL-12p70, TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma. Naive T cells stimulated by fucoidan-treated DCs differentiated towards a helper T cell type 1 (Th1) response depending on IL-12 secretion. These results suggest that fucoidan may induce immature DCs maturation and drive their differentiation towards a Th1-polarizing phenotype. Moreover, our data suggest that DCs appear to be a potential target for the immunomodulatory capacity of fucoidan and fucoidan may be used on DC-based vaccines for cancer immunotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Meixiang
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Chunhong
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Jintang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Qianqian
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Shao
authors.forename: Wenjuan
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Zewu
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Qi
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Zhaogang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.forename: Xun
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Qu
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000494:pharmacology; D009000:Monocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D016207:Cytokines; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D011134:Polysaccharides; D015847:Interleukin-4; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor; C007789:fucoidan