Induction of secretory and tumoricidal activities in peritoneal macrophages activated by an acidic heteropolysaccharide (ARAGAL) from the gum of Anadenanthera colubrina (Angico branco)

• Published in: Immunology letters Vol. 93; no. 2; pp. 189 - 197
• Main Authors: Moretão, Mariana Piemonte, Zampronio, Aleksander Roberto, Gorin, Philip A.J, Iacomini, Marcello, Oliveira, Maria Benigna M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 15.05.2004
• Subjects: Anadenanthera colubrina; Animals; Ascitic Fluid - drug effects; Ascitic Fluid - pathology; Brazil; Carbohydrate Sequence; Cell Count; Cell Line, Tumor; Coculture Techniques; Cytotoxicity, Immunologic - physiology; Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; Fabaceae - chemistry; Galactans - pharmacology; Injections, Intraperitoneal; Macrophage; Macrophage Activation - immunology; Macrophage Activation - physiology; Macrophages, Peritoneal - cytology; Macrophages, Peritoneal - drug effects; Macrophages, Peritoneal - physiology; Male; Mice; Neoplasms - drug therapy; Neoplasms - pathology; Peritoneal Cavity - cytology; Plant arabinogalactan; Polysaccharides - pharmacology; TNF-α; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha - metabolism; TNF-α; Plant arabinogalactan; Macrophage
• ISSN: 0165-2478; 1879-0542
• DOI: 10.1016/j.imlet.2004.03.021

The immunomodulatory and anti-tumoral effects of an acidic heteropolysaccharide containing mainly galactose and arabinose (ARAGAL), isolated from the gum of the leguminous tree Anadenanthera colubrina (Angico branco) native to Brazil, were studied. It has been demonstrated that activation of mice peritoneal macrophages both in vivo and in vitro, increases phagocytic ability and anion superoxide production. In order to obtain further insights on the biological effects of ARAGAL, the capacity of eliciting peritoneal macrophages and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) production, and anti-tumoral effect against Sarcoma 180 (S-180), are now evaluated. Cell eliciting activity was observed in ARAGAL-treated animals in a dose dependent manner. Treatment of animals with 50, 100 or 200 mg/kg of ARAGAL increased peritoneal exudate cell (PEC) numbers by ∼18, ∼44 and ∼88%, respectively. ARAGAL also increased 26-fold TNF-α production by peritoneal macrophages. Macrophages, treated in vitro for 18 h with ARAGAL, were able to kill Sarcoma 180 cells, as observed by their structures inside the macrophage cytoplasm. ARAGAL (100 mg/kg) showed anti-tumoral activity against S-180 in ascites or solid tumors, the tumoral inhibition being 63 and 38%, respectively. The results suggest a possible role as a BRM for ARAGAL.