Gum Arabic in combination with IFN-γ promotes the M1 polarization in macrophage

Int J Biol Macromol. 2022 Jun 1;209(Pt A):506-512. doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2022.04.024. Epub 2022 Apr 7.

Abstract

Gum Arabic, a mixture of polysaccharide and glycoprotein, is used as an emulsifying stabilizer in the food industry. It might have immunomodulatory effects. We hypothesized that the combination of IFN-γ and Gum Arabic promotes the production of pro-inflammatory factors in RAW 264.7 cells. Treatment of RAW 264.7 cells with the combination of 3% Gum Arabic and 40 ng/mL IFN-γ resulted in a drastic increase (320%) in nitric oxide production compared with that induced by IFN-γ alone. PGE-2 was produced after the cells were treated with 3% Gum Arabic and 40 ng/mL IFN-γ for 6 h. Gum Arabic and IFN-γ increased the production of iNOS and COX-2 proteins, and triggered TNF-α release. Apart from TNF-α, the release of both G-CSF and IL-6 increased by more than 100 times. The release of IL-3, RANTES, and IL-10 increased by more than ten times. Gum Arabic and IFN-γ also increased the secretion of IL-10, IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-13, KC, IL-5, IL-4, IL-12, Eotaxin, IL-9, MCP-1, and ROS. Cytokines associated with M1 polarization of macrophages such as TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-12, NO, and ROS were induced by Gum Arabic and IFN-γ. Our findings help to explore the inflammatory reaction caused by Gum Arabic in cosmetics.

Keywords: Cytokines; Gum Arabic; Interferon-gamma; Macrophages; Nitric oxide; Pro-inflammatory; Prostaglandin E2.

MeSH terms

  • Cytokines / metabolism
  • Gum Arabic / pharmacology
  • Interferon-gamma / metabolism
  • Interferon-gamma / pharmacology
  • Interleukin-10* / metabolism
  • Interleukin-12 / metabolism
  • Macrophages
  • Nitric Oxide / metabolism
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha* / metabolism

Substances

  • Cytokines
  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • Interleukin-10
  • Interleukin-12
  • Nitric Oxide
  • Interferon-gamma
  • Gum Arabic