Effects of chitosan pentamer and chitosan hexamer in vivo and in vitro on gene expression and secretion of cytokines

Effects of chitosan pentamer ((GLcN)5) and chitosan hexamer ((GLcN)6) in vivo and in vitro on gene transcription and protein translation of interleukin-1 (IL-1), tumour necrosis, factor alpha (TNF-), interleukin-2 and interferon- (IFN-) were investigated by relatively quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The results showed that the expression of IL-1 mRNA, TNF- mRNA, IFN- mRNA as well as the secretion of IL-1, TNF- and IFN- can both be promoted by (GLcN)6 and (GLcN)5. The promotion effects caused by (GLcN)6 were greater than that of (GLcN)5. Gene transcription and protein secretion of cytokines were promoted by (GLcN)5 and (GLcN)6 in vivo and in vitro and thus the immuno-modulating ability was promoted. This may be one of the molecular mechanisms for elucidation of immunity of chitooligosaccharides.