Characteristic immunostimulation by angelan isolated from Angelica gigas Nakai.

Abstract

The immunopharmacological characteristics of angelan, a polysaccharide purified from Angelica gigas Nakai, were investigated in relation to the specificity to immune cells. The treatment of angelan increased the expression of IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, and IFN-gamma. The expression of IL-6 and IFN-gamma was rapidly augmented but that of IL-2 responded later. In the case of IL-4, angelan stimulated at early time after exposure but down-regulated thereafter. These results suggested that macrophages and natural killer cells involved in nonspecific immunity were primarily activated and helper T cells were secondarily affected by angelan. Angelan also had lympho-proliferative potential to B cells, specifically. The specificity of angelan was also elucidated in a cell fractionation experiment. The activated B cells by angelan also increased antibody production. The direct activation of B cells, macrophages, and accessory cells and the indirect activation of helper T cells coordinately increased immune functions such as in vitro and in vivo T-dependent immunization and antibody production. The experiment of host resistance to syngeneic tumors also showed that angelan potentiated the immune functions. In conclusion, angelan, a purified polysaccharide from an oriental herbal drug, showed characteristic immunostimulation, which was different from clinically used polysaccharides such as lentinan and PSK.

• Authors: S B Han, Y H Kim, C W Lee, S M Park, H Y Lee, K S Ahn, I H Kim, H M Kim
• Journal: Immunopharmacology (Immunopharmacology) Vol. 40 Issue 1 Pg. 39-48 (Jul 1998) ISSN: 0162-3109 [Print] Netherlands
• PMID: 9776477 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Adjuvants, Immunologic
• Cytokines
• Drugs, Chinese Herbal
• Immunoglobulin M
• Interleukin-2
• Interleukin-6
• Polysaccharides
• RNA, Messenger
• Interleukin-4
• Interferon-gamma

Topics

• Adjuvants, Immunologic (pharmacology)
• Animals
• B-Lymphocytes (drug effects, immunology)
• Cytokines (biosynthesis, chemistry)
• Down-Regulation
• Drugs, Chinese Herbal (pharmacology)
• Immunoglobulin M (biosynthesis)
• Interferon-gamma (biosynthesis)
• Interleukin-2 (biosynthesis)
• Interleukin-4 (biosynthesis)
• Interleukin-6 (biosynthesis)
• Killer Cells, Natural (drug effects, immunology)
• Korea
• Lymphocyte Activation (drug effects, immunology)
• Macrophages (drug effects, immunology)
• Mice
• Polysaccharides (pharmacology)
• RNA, Messenger (biosynthesis)
• Viral Plaque Assay