Basic Research
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2004. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Dec 1, 2004; 10(23): 3490-3494
Published online Dec 1, 2004. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v10.i23.3490
Inhibitory effect of heparin-derived oligosaccharides on secretion of interleukin-4 and interleukin-5 from human peripheral blood T lymphocytes
Sheng-Li Ji, Hui-Fei Cui, Feng Shi, Yan-Qing Chi, Ji-Chao Cao, Mei-Yu Geng, Hua-Shi Guan
Sheng-Li Ji, Mei-Yu Geng, Hua-Shi Guan, Key Laboratory of Marine Drugs, Marine Drug and Food Institute, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, Shandong Province, China
Sheng-Li Ji, Hui-Fei Cui, Feng Shi, Ji-Chao Cao, Institute of Biochemical and Biotech drugs, School of Pharmacy, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, Shandong Province, China
Yan-Qing Chi, Department of Pharmacy, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Jinan 250021, Shandong Province, China
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 30370613 and the Major state Basic Research Development Program of China, 2001CCA01600
Correspondence to: Sheng-Li Ji, Institute of Biochemical and Biotech Drugs, School of Pharmacy, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, Shandong Province, China. shengliji@sdu.edu.cn
Telephone: +86-531-8380288 Fax: +86-531-2929312
Received: March 19, 2004
Revised: March 22, 2004
Accepted: April 7, 2004
Published online: December 1, 2004
Abstract

AIM: To investigate the inhibitory effect of heparin-derived oligosaccharides (Oligs) on secretion of interleukin-4 (IL-4) and interleukin-5 (IL-5) from human peripheral blood T lymphocytes (PBTLs).

METHODS: Oligs were prepared by three different heparin depolymerization methods and separated by gel filtration chromatography. PBTLs from ten adult patients with allergic eosinophilic gastroenteritis were treated with phytahematoagglutinin (PHA) and Oligs. The supernatants from the cell culture of PBTLs were harvested and subjected to the determination of IL-4 and IL-5 contents by ELISA method.

RESULTS: At the concentration of 5 μg/mL, Oligs with different Mr had different effects on the secretion of IL-4 and IL-5. The tetrasaccharide with Mr of 1142, produced by depolymerizing heparin with hydrogen peroxide, had the strongest inhibitory effect on the secretion of IL-4. It decreased the IL-4 content from 375.6 ± 39.2 ng/L (PHA group) to 12.5 ± 5.7 ng/L (P < 0.01). The hexasaccharide with Mr of 1806, produced by depolymerizing heparin with β -elimination method, had the strongest inhibitory effect on the secretion of IL-5. It decreased the IL-5 content from 289.2 ± 33.4 ng/L (PHA group) to 22.0 ± 5.2 ng/L (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION: The inhibitory activity of Oligs on the secretion of IL-4 and IL-5 from human PBTLs closely depends on their molecular structure, and there may be an essential structure to act as an inhibitor. The most effective inhibitors of IL-4 and IL-5 secretion are tetrasaccharides and hexasaccharides, respectively.

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