Inhibitory function of P-selectin-mediated leukocyte adhesion by the polysaccharides from Sanguisorba officinalis

P-selectin is a promising target for inflammatory-related diseases. Polysaccharides are the active ingredients of Sanguisorba officinalis L. (Rosaceae) responsible for its anti-inflammatory activities; however, the molecular mechanism is not clear yet.

This study evaluates the effects of polysaccharides (SOPs) from Sanguisorba officinalis on their antagonistic function against P-selectin-mediated leukocyte adhesion.

The antagonistic function of SOPs was investigated by flow cytometry and static adhesion assay at the concentrations of 25 and 100 μg/ml. The dynamic interaction between HL-60 cells and CHO-P cell monolayer treated with SOPs (25 and 100 μg/ml) was analyzed in a parallel plate flow chamber, and quantitatively calculated by ImageJ software (NIH, Bethesda, MD). In vitro protein binding assay was carried out to evaluate the blocking effects of SOPs (25 and 100 μg/ml) on the interaction between P-selectin and PSGL-1.

SOPs-treatment (100 μg/ml) significantly reduced the percentage of HL-60 cells binding to P-selectin (p < 0.01) determined by flow cytometry. In addition, SOPs (25 and 100 μg/ml) markedly blocked the adhesion between HL-60 cells and CHO-P cells under static condition, and the inhibitory rates reached 39.9% and 71.2%, respectively. Compared with the positive control group, SOPs-treatment (25 and 100 μg/ml) significantly reduced the percentage of HL-60 cells rolling on CHO-P cell monolayers by 43.5% and 75.2%, respectively. Protein binding assay showed the interaction between P-selectin and PSGL-1 was significantly blocked by SOPs.

SOPs possess a significant antagonistic function against P-selectin-mediated leukocyte adhesion, and SOPs could be considered as a promising candidate for amelioration of inflammation-related diseases.