Stimulation of cytokine production in mice using deacetylated chitin

The effect of 70% deacetylated chitin (DAC-70) on the production of cytokines in mice was examined. DAC-70 stimulated the production of colony-stimulating factor and interferon at 6 to 12 h and 24 h after intraperitoneal injection, respectively. Interleukin 1 and colony-stimulating activity were induced in the supernatants of thioglycolate-induced macrophages stimulated with DAC-70 in vitro. However, DAC-70 did not stimulate the production by spleen cells of interleukin 2, interferon, colony-stimulating or macrophage-activating factor or of interferon by macrophages in vitro. DAC-70 showed no effect on the production of tumour necrosis factor in vivo.