A Polysaccharide Isolated from <em>Codonopsis pilosula</em> with Immunomodulation Effects Both In Vitro and In Vivo
Yuan-Feng Zou,
Yan-Yun Zhang,
Yu-Ping Fu,
Kari Tvete Inngjerdingen,
Berit Smestad Paulsen,
Bin Feng,
Zhong-Kai Zhu,
Li-Xia Li,
Ren-Yong Jia,
Chao Huang,
Xu Song,
Cheng Lv,
Gang Ye,
Xiao-Xia Liang,
Chang-Liang He,
Li-Zi Yin,
Zhong-Qiong Yin
Affiliations
Yuan-Feng Zou
Natural Medicine Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
Yan-Yun Zhang
Natural Medicine Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
Yu-Ping Fu
Natural Medicine Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
Kari Tvete Inngjerdingen
Department of Pharmacy, Section Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1068 Blindern, 0316 Oslo, Norway
Berit Smestad Paulsen
Department of Pharmacy, Section Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1068 Blindern, 0316 Oslo, Norway
Bin Feng
Animal Nutrition Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
Zhong-Kai Zhu
Natural Medicine Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
Li-Xia Li
Natural Medicine Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
Ren-Yong Jia
Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
Chao Huang
Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
Xu Song
Natural Medicine Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
Cheng Lv
Natural Medicine Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
Gang Ye
Natural Medicine Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
Xiao-Xia Liang
Natural Medicine Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
Chang-Liang He
Natural Medicine Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
Li-Zi Yin
Natural Medicine Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
Zhong-Qiong Yin
Natural Medicine Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
In this study, an acidic polysaccharide from Codonopsis pilosula Nannf. var. modesta (Nannf.) L. T. Shen (WCP-I) and its main fragment, WCP-Ia, obtained after pectinase digestion, were structurally elucidated and found to consist of a rhamnogalacturonan I (RG-I) region containing both arabinogalactan type I (AG-I) and type II (AG-II) as sidechains. They both expressed immunomodulating activity against Peyer’s patch cells. Endo-1,4-β-galactanase degradation gave a decrease of interleukine 6 (IL-6) production compared with native WCP-I and WCP-Ia, but exo-α-l-arabinofuranosidase digestion showed no changes in activity. This demonstrated that the stimulation activity partly disappeared with removal of β-d-(1→4)-galactan chains, proving that the AG-I side chain plays an important role in immunoregulation activity. WCP-Ia had a better promotion effect than WCP-I in vivo, shown through an increased spleen index, higher concentrations of IL-6, transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in serum, and a slight increment in the secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) and CD4+/CD8+ T lymphocyte ratio. These results suggest that β-d-(1→4)-galactan-containing chains in WCP-I play an essential role in the expression of immunomodulating activity. Combining all the results in this and previous studies, the intestinal immune system might be the target site of WCP-Ia.
