Signals elicited at the intestinal epithelium upon chitosan feeding contribute to

CANALI MM; PORPORATO C; AOKI MP; BIANCO ID; CORREA SG

ELSEVIER SCI LTD

Año: 2010 vol. 28 p. 5718 - 5718

font size="1" face="GulliverRM"> Chitosan is a copolymer of N-acetylglucosamine and glucosamine derived from chitin with several applications in pharmaceutical and medical fields. This polysaccharide exhibits adjuvant properties in mucosal immune responses of humans, rats and mice. Characterization of signals elicited by chitosan at the intestinal epithelium could explain its immunomodulatory activity and biocompatibility. We fed normal rats with single doses of chitosan and 16 h later, we purified intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) to assess immune and biochemical parameters. Following chitosan administration, mRNA expression and release of several cytokines and chemokines increased, injury markers maintained constitutive levels and MHC type II molecule expression was augmented. IEC supernatants showed high