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Hydroxypropyltrimethyl ammonium chloride chitosan activates RAW 264.7 macrophages through the MAPK and JAK-STAT
Yue Yang1, Ronge Xing2, Song Liu2
1Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 7 Nanhai Road, Qingdao 266071, China; Laboratory for Marine Drugs and Bioproducts of Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, No. 1 Wenhai Road, Qingdao 266237, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; Center for Ocean Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 7 Nanhai Road, Qingdao, 266071, PR China.
Abstract:
Hydroxypropyltrimethyl ammonium chloride chitosan (HACC) is a water-soluble derivative of chitosan. To investigate the immunostimulatory effects of HACC, quaternized chitosans with different molecular weights were prepared and their effects on RAW 264.7 macrophages were compared. The results showed that HACC promoted nitric oxide (NO) production in a molecular weight- and dose-dependent manner. Lower molecular weight HACC was more active in promoting NO production. Furthermore, flow cytometry analysis showed that HACC significantly promoted the production of interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α. These results were further demonstrated by quantitive real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and western blot analysis. Moreover, western blotting revealed that HACC induced the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase, c-Jun N-terminal kinase, p38, and signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) proteins. In conclusion, HACC activated RAW 264.7 cells through the mitogen-activated protein kinases and Janus kinase/STAT pathways.
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