Chitooligosaccharides as a potential immune modulator for reducing particulate matter 10-induced inflammation in...

This study investigated the effects of chitooligosaccharides (COS) on proinflammatory cytokines and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) activation in particulate matter 10 (PM10)-induced mice. Results demonstrated that COS treatment significantly reduced proinflammatory cytokines, including interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-1β, particularly in the COS_20 group (20 mg/kg body weight of COS). Lower COS doses correlated with a dose-dependent decrease in proinflammatory cytokine levels and inflammatory cell infiltration in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and lung tissue. COS treatment increased Th2 cell-related biomarkers (IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13), although these decreased at higher doses. Western blotting analysis revealed that COS suppressed NF-κB activation, particularly in the COS_20 group, suggesting that COS may inhibit IκB degradation, preventing NF-κB translocation to the nucleus and subsequent transcription of proinflammatory genes. These findings indicate that COS effectively mitigates the inflammatory response triggered by PM10 exposure, positioning it as a potential functional health supplement for managing pulmonary inflammation and related disorders.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s43188-025-00304-0.