Affiliations: MOE Key Laboratory of Laser Life Science &
Institute of Laser Life Science, South China Normal University, Guangzhou,
China | Biomedical Engineering Program, Department of
Engineering and Physics, College of Mathematics and Science, University of
Central Oklahoma, Edmond, OH, USA
Note: [] Corresponding author: Da Xing, Ph.D., Prof., MOE Key Laboratory
of Laser Life Science & Institute of Laser Life Science, South China Normal
University, Guangzhou 510631, China. Tel.: +86 20 85210089; Fax: +86 20
85216052; E-mail: xingda@scnu.edu.cn
Abstract: Glycated chitosan (GC) is a new compound derived from chitosan by
attaching galactose molecules to the chitosan molecules. GC was designed for
immune stimulations in combination with phototherapies in the cancer treatment.
The future clinical applications require a thorough understanding of the
properties of GC. Murine macrophage cells (RAW264.7) were used to investigate
NO formation and TNFα secretion stimulated by GC. Murine mammary tumor
cells (EMT6) were treated in vitro and in vivo by laser irradiation with 980 nm
in combination with GC stimulation. Here is the first in a series of studies
designed to understand the immunological mechanisms of GC. Our in vitro results
show that GC could enter into macrophages to stimulate NO generation and
TNFα secretion. GC could further enhance the TNFα secretion of
macrophages stimulated by laser treated tumor cells. Our in vivo results also
show immunological effects of GC, particularly in inducing tumor-specific
immune responses. Our results indicated that GC was a strong immunological
stimulant for cancer treatment, particularly when combined with laser
phototherapies.
Keywords: Glycated chitosan, cancer treatment, immunological mechanisms, macrophages
