Biocompatibility and immunostimulatory properties of fish collagen and shrimp chitosan towards peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs)

Several naturally occurring biopolymers are commercially produced from livestock and farmed animals processing wastes, including aquatic organisms. These wastes are considered valuable coproducts of fishery processing industry, from which biopolymers may be recovered and exploited for their bioactive potential. The aim of this work was to prepare polymeric films from collagen and chitosan solutions, extracted from fishery discards, and investigate the cytotoxicity and immunomodulatory activity towards human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). PBMCs were isolated from healthy donors and treated with Chitosan, Collagen, Chitosan+Collagen solutions and Chitosan+Collagen film in order to measure the changes in cell viability, cytosolic calcium concentration ([Ca2+]cyt), mitochondrial membrane potential (A'Pm), reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, differentiation and activation of T CD8(+ )and CD4(+ ) lymphocytes, and cytokine production. Results showed that collagen and chitosan preparations did not show cytotoxic effect, while cellular IL-6, IL-10, and TNF-alpha release was observed. Chitosan and collagen were able to promote non-cytotoxic PBMCs activation through cytosolic and mitochondrial ROS production. There was a noteworthy phenotyping of lymphocytes T CD8(+ ) and CD4(+ ) counting and an increase of [Ca2+] cyt and A'Pm levels. These results suggest that chitosan/collagen-based biomaterials produce immunostimulatory effects on PBMC with potential to biomedical approaches.

Automated summary

This study investigated the immunostimulatory effects of collagen and chitosan preparations extracted from fishery discards on human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). The results showed that these preparations did not exhibit cytotoxic effects, but they promoted the release of cytokines and increased the production of cellular ROS. They also led to the activation of T CD8(+) and CD4(+) lymphocytes, as well as an increase in cytosolic calcium concentration and mitochondrial membrane potential.