title: Characterization of polysaccharide from Astragalus radix as the macrophage stimulator.
abstract: Astragalus polysaccharide (APS) was obtained by hot water extraction, alcohol precipitation, gel-permeation chromatography and ultrafiltration. Fluorescence material 2-aminoacridone (2-AMAC) labeled APS bind to macrophage in a time- dependent manner and the binding can be remarkably inhibited by APS. Furthermore, the effect of APS on RAW264.7 macrophage demonstrated APS increase the level of cytokines including TNF-α, GM-CSF and the production of NO. NF-κB protein levels are increased in response to APS. Blocking NF-κB with specific inhibitor resulted in decreased levels of NO and TNF-α. The results suggested that APS possess potent immunomodulatory activity by stimulating macrophage and could be used as an immunotherapeutic adjuvant.
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics and Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China. zhaoluhang@263.net
authors.forename: Lu-Hang
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Zhi-Xin
authors.initials: ZX
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Xiao-Hong
authors.initials: XH
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Deng-Po
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Weng
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D027883:Astragalus Plant / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology; D027885:Astragalus propinquus / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000276:immunology*; D002460:Cell Line; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008262:Macrophage Activation / Q000187:drug effects*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008970:Molecular Weight; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000096:biosynthesis; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011392:Proline / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D013859:Thiocarbamates / Q000494:pharmacology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D016328:NF-kappa B; D011134:Polysaccharides; D013859:Thiocarbamates; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; C066229:prolinedithiocarbamate; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor; C027492:Huang Qi; D011392:Proline