title: [Immune regulation activity and mechanism of Tibetan Kefir exopolysaccharide fractions].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effects and mechanism on immune regulation activity in mice of two Tibetan Kefir exoploysaccharides (EPS) with different molecular weight of 0.1 x 10(5) - 3 x 10(5) (fraction 1) and 1.8 x 10(3) (fraction 2).
  
  
  METHODS
  The immune regulation activity experiment was carried out in vitro based on the Functional Assessment Procedure and Test Methods of Health Food, which was issued by Ministry of Health of China. First, we treated mice subjects with EPS at doses of 40 mg/kg, 80 mg/kg, 120 mg/kg through ig. Then we detected the index of immune organs, the ability of antibody production (tested by HC50), activity of NK cell, delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) and phagocytosis of macrophage in mice. Finally, we examined the expression of Erk protein in Macrophages by Western Blot assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fraction 1 could promote HC50, activity of NK cell and DTH in mice which low dose showed better. Fraction 2 could promote DTH, phagocytosis of macrophage which high dose showed better. The expression of Erk and COX-2 had the same trend with Phagocytic index.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We verified the two fractions of Tibetan Kefir EPS could enhance immune functions in mice. Fraction 1 regulated immune function through NK cell and B cell while fraction 2 through macrophage cell and T cell. The effects to macrophage of Tibetan Kefir EPS in mice may realize through extra cellular signal-regulated kinase Erk pathway.
authors.affiliation: College of Life Science, Heilongjiang University, Harbin 150080, China.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Meng
authors.forename: Lanwei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D043302:Cultured Milk Products / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D007107:Immune System / Q000187:drug effects*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000187:drug effects; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D011897:Random Allocation; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D018609:Tibet
chemical_list: D011134:Polysaccharides