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Stimulation of tumor necrosis factor-induced human myelogenous leukemic cell differentiation by high molecular weight

H Sakagami1, M Ikeda, K Konno

  • 1First Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Showa University, Tokyo, Japan.

Insights

Protein-bound polysaccharide (PSK) enhances macrophage differentiation. Specifically, a high molecular weight fraction of PSK significantly boosted the differentiation of leukemic cells induced by J774.1 conditioned medium or tumor necrosis factor.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Cell Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • The J774.1 mouse macrophage cell line spontaneously releases differentiation-inducing factors.
  • Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) is known to induce myeloid leukemic cell differentiation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effect of protein-bound polysaccharide (PSK) on macrophage differentiation.
  • To determine if PSK can enhance leukemic cell differentiation induced by J774.1 conditioned medium or TNF.

Main Methods:

  • Culturing J774.1 mouse macrophage-like cells.
  • Treating cells with protein-bound polysaccharide (PSK) and its subfractions.
  • Measuring differentiation-inducing activity in culture supernatants.
  • Assessing the direct stimulation of human myelogenous leukemic cell differentiation.

Main Results:

  • PSK treatment significantly increased differentiation-inducing activity in J774.1 cell culture supernatants.
  • PSK directly stimulated human myelogenous leukemic cell differentiation.
  • Only the highest molecular weight fraction (MW > 200 kD) of PSK exhibited this stimulating effect.

Conclusions:

  • Protein-bound polysaccharide (PSK) potentiates macrophage differentiation-inducing activity.
  • A high molecular weight component of PSK is responsible for enhancing leukemic cell differentiation.

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