Cytokine-inducing and anti-inflammatory activity of chitosan and its low-molecular derivative

A low-molecular derivative of the polysaccharide (5 kDa) was obtained and its cytokine-inducing and anti-inflammatory activity was studied by free radical depolymerization of chitosan (110 kDa). It was shown that high-molecular chitosan in vitro inhibited the synthesis of anti-inflammatory cytokine, the tumor necrosis factor alpha induced by endotoxin. In the case of peroral introduction to experimental animals, high- and low-molecular chitosans stimulated synthesis of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 in the blood serum of mice; in this case, the activity of the high-molecular derivative was two times higher as compared with the initial polysaccharide. With peroral introduction, the initial polysaccharide (50 mg/kg) and its derivative inhibited the development of chemically induced inflammation of experimental animals' large intestines, which was manifested as a decrease in the affected area and the degree of damage to the large intestine wall, as well as a two-fold reduction of myeloperoxidase activity. According to morphological and biochemical characteristics, the effect of chitosans was similar to that of a hormone anti-inflammatory drug, prednisolone.