Abstract:
OBJECTIVE To study the chemical composition and the modulating effect of Polygonum cuspidatum Sieb. et Zucc polysaccharide(PCPS) on macrophages and immunosuppressed mice, to provide a basis for the development and utilization of PCPS.
METHODS The content of neutral sugar, uronic acid and protein were determined by phenol-sulfuric acid method, sulfuric acid-sodium tetraborate method and coomassie brilliant blue staining method, respectively. Monosaccharide composition of PCPS was analyzed by HPLC. The effects of PCPS on the viability of Raw264.7 cells were evaluated through MTT experiment. Neutral red staining and flow cytometry were used to study the effects of PCPS on the phagocytic function of Raw264.7 cells. The effects of PCPS on the secretion level of immune factors in Raw264.7 cells were determined by ELISA. Furthermore, cyclophosphamide(CTX) was used to establish an immunosuppressive mouse model, and the effects of PCPS on the thymus index and the number of small intestinal Peyer's patches were observed to evaluate the resistance of PCPS to CTX induced immunosuppression.
RESULTS PCPS was composed of six monosaccharides, including glucose(Glc), mannose(Man), rhamnose(Rha), galacturonic acid(GalA), galactose(Gal) and arabinose(Ara). Among them, Glc was the main monosaccharide, accounting for 76.44%. The contents of neutral sugar, uronic acid and protein in PCPS were 52.31%, 13.47% and 6.90%, respectively. PCPS within a concentration range of 25−800 μg·mL−1 could enhance the vitality of macrophage; PCPS at 200 and 400 μg·mL−1 could promote the neutral red phagocytic ability of macrophages, and PCPS at 100−400 μg·mL−1 could promote the phagocytosis of FITC-dextran fluorescent microspheres. In addition, PCPS could also stimulate the secretion of TNF-α and IL-6 by macrophages. Animal experiments further proved that PCPS increased the thymus index and small intestinal Peyer's patches of immunosuppressed mice.
CONCLUSION The main monosaccharide composition of PCPS is Glc, which can enhance the immune function of macrophages and resist the immunosuppression induced by CTX.