Diequitorially bound beta 1-4 polyuronates and use of same for cytokine stimulation.

摘要

The present invention is directed to a material and method for the stimulation of the production of cytokines. Several polysaccharides, including polymers of different size of beta 1-4 linked D-mannuronic acid (poly-M and M-blocks), chitosan and cellulose oxidized in C-6 position (C60XY) induce human monocytes to produce the cytokines. Preferably, the molecular weights of poly-M and chitosan are above 50,000 and 20,000 respectively. Pretreatment of the monocytes with IFN- gamma increases the cytokine production from monocytes stimulated with all polysaccharides tested. The subject polysaccharides worked in vivo and in vitro. The present invention has therapeutic utility as vaccine adjuvants and components. Therapeutic compositions comprising biologically active quantities of the compositions of the present invention may be employed to potentiate antibody production in response to vaccine antigens. Anti-tumor, anti-bacteriological, anti-fungal and anti-viral effects may be expected.