Sakai Shinobu, Akiyama Hiroshi, Harikai Naoki, Toyoda Hidenao, Toida Toshihiko, Maitani Tamio, Imanari Toshio
Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chiba University, 1-33, Yayoi-cho, Inage-ku, Chiba 263-8522, Japan.
Immunol Lett. 2002 Dec 3;84(3):211-6. doi: 10.1016/s0165-2478(02)00181-5.
Chondroitin sulfate (CS) is a glycosaminoglycan that is widely present in animals organisms, and it has anti-inflammatory and chondroprotective properties. To examine the effects of CS on the immune system, splenocytes obtained from ovalbumin (OVA)-sensitized BALB/c mice were challenged with OVA in the presence of CS, and cytokine levels in the medium of the cultured cells were measured. CS induced secretion of Th1-type cytokines (IFN-gamma, IL-2, and IL-12) by OVA-sensitized splenocytes but suppressed secretion of Th2-type cytokines (IL-5 and IL-10). Flow cytometric assay showed a significantly higher percentage of helper T cells (CD4(+)CD8(-) cells) among the splenocytes cultured with OVA and CS than with OVA alone. Analysis of the IFN-gamma mRNA level of the splenocytes by the real-time quantitative RT-PCR technique revealed higher levels in the splenocytes cultured with OVA and CS than in the splenocytes cultured with OVA alone. This is the first demonstration that CS inhibits antigen-induced IgE production through induction of cytokine secretion by Th1 cells, and this finding suggests a potential use of CS in preventing IgE-mediated allergy.
硫酸软骨素（CS）是一种广泛存在于动物机体中的糖胺聚糖，具有抗炎和软骨保护特性。为了研究CS对免疫系统的影响，从卵清蛋白（OVA）致敏的BALB/c小鼠中获取脾细胞，在有CS存在的情况下用OVA刺激这些脾细胞，并检测培养细胞培养基中的细胞因子水平。CS可诱导OVA致敏的脾细胞分泌Th1型细胞因子（IFN-γ、IL-2和IL-12），但抑制Th2型细胞因子（IL-5和IL-10）的分泌。流式细胞术检测显示，与单独用OVA培养的脾细胞相比，用OVA和CS共同培养的脾细胞中辅助性T细胞（CD4(+)CD8(-)细胞）的百分比显著更高。通过实时定量RT-PCR技术分析脾细胞的IFN-γ mRNA水平发现，与单独用OVA培养的脾细胞相比，用OVA和CS共同培养的脾细胞中该水平更高。这是首次证明CS通过诱导Th1细胞分泌细胞因子来抑制抗原诱导的IgE产生，这一发现提示CS在预防IgE介导的过敏方面具有潜在用途。
