Structural characterization of a novel polysaccharide from pulp tissues of Litchi chinensis and its immunomodulatory activity

J Agric Food Chem. 2014 Jan 29;62(4):902-11. doi: 10.1021/jf404752c. Epub 2014 Jan 16.

Abstract

A novel polysaccharide (LCP50W) with a molecular weight of 4.72 × 10(4) Da was isolated from the pulp tissues of Litchi chinensis . The chemical structure of LCP50W was characterized using physicochemical and instrumental analyses. The results indicated that the main chain of LCP50W consisted of (1→3)-linked β-L-rhamnopyranosyl, (1→6)-linked α-D-glucopyranosyl, and (1→2,6)-linked α-D-glucopyranosyl residues, which branched at O-6. The three branches consisted of (1→2)-linked α-L-rhamnopyranosyl, (1→3)-linked α-D-galactopyranosyl, and (1→3)-linked α-L-mannopyranosyl residues, terminated with (1→)-linked α-L-arabinopyranosyl residues, respectively. The in vitro immunomodulatory assay revealed that LCP50W promoted the proliferation of mouse splenocytes and enhanced the cytotoxicity of NK cells. LCP50W boosted the secretion of Th1 cytokine IFN-γ while it inhibited the secretion of Th2 cytokine IL-4; it also enhanced the expression of T-bet while it inhibited the expression of GATA-3. Additionally, LCP50W promoted the development of cell cycle toward the S phase.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Carbohydrate Conformation
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • China
  • Cytokines / metabolism
  • Fruit / chemistry*
  • GATA3 Transcription Factor
  • Gene Expression / drug effects
  • Immunologic Factors / pharmacology*
  • Killer Cells, Natural / drug effects
  • Killer Cells, Natural / immunology
  • Litchi / chemistry*
  • Lymphocyte Activation / drug effects
  • Mice
  • Molecular Structure
  • Polysaccharides / chemistry*
  • Polysaccharides / isolation & purification
  • Polysaccharides / pharmacology*
  • Spleen / cytology
  • Spleen / drug effects
  • T-Box Domain Proteins / genetics

Substances

  • Cytokines
  • GATA3 Transcription Factor
  • Immunologic Factors
  • Polysaccharides
  • T-Box Domain Proteins
  • T-box transcription factor TBX21