Morchella angusticeps Peck has been recognized as a resource of nutraceuticals and drug discovery. Three acetylated polysaccharides (Ac-PMEP1-3) with appropriate degree of substitution were obtained from Morchella angusticeps Peck, chemically characterized, and cultured with macrophage RAW264.7 cells to evaluate their immune activation and anti-inflammatory activities. Results of ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy and fourier-transform infrared showed these modifications were successful. Compared with the control group, PMEP and Ac-PMEP1-3 enhanced cell proliferation and the production of nitric oxide and tumor necrosis factor-α of RAW264.7 macrophages (cultured without lipopolysaccharide). Compared with PMEP, Ac-PMEP3 enhanced cell viability and NO production by inducing the degradation of cytoplasmic IκBα and nuclear translocation of NF-κB subunit p65 as well as the expression of iNOS and phosphorylated-p38. Moreover, in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages, Ac-PMEP3 showed a stronger ability to suppress the overproduction of nitric oxide and tumor necrosis factor-α by down-regulating the level of nuclear NF-κB p65, iNOS, and phosphorylated-p38 and inhibiting the degradation of cytoplasmic IκBα. Therefore, Ac-PMEP enhanced immune activation and anti-inflammatory activities via nuclear factor κB and p38/mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathways.
Keywords: Acetylated polysaccharide; Anti-inflammatory; Immunomodulatory; Morchella angusticepes peck; Nuclear NF-κB; RAW264.7 cells.
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