Search results for "POLYSACCHARIDE"
showing 10 items of 635 documents
Isolation of a novel LPS-induced component of the ML superfamily in Ciona intestinalis
2015
ML superfamily represents a group of proteins playing important roles in lipid metabolism and innate immune response. In this study, we report the identification of the first component of the ML superfamily in the invertebrate Ciona intestinalis by means of a subtractive hybridization strategy. Sequence homology and phylogenetic analysis showed that this protein forms a specific clade with vertebrate components of the Niemann-Pick type C2 protein and, for this reason, it has been named Ci-NPC2. The putative Ci-NPC2 is a 150 amino acids long protein with a short signal peptide, seven cysteine residues, three putative lipid binding site and a three-dimensional model showing a characteristic b…
Increased frequencies of CD11b+CD33+CD14+HLA-DRlowmyeloid-derived suppressor cells are an early event in melanoma patients
2014
Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) are a heterogeneous cell population characterized by immunosuppressive activity. Elevated levels of MDSC in peripheral blood are found in inflammatory diseases as well as in malignant tumors where they are supposed to be major contributors to mechanisms of tumor-associated tolerance. We investigated the frequency and function of MDSC in peripheral blood of melanoma patients and observed an accumulation of CD11b(+) CD33(+) CD14(+) HLA-DR(low) MDSC in all stages of disease (I-IV), including early stage I patients. Disease progression and enhanced tumor burden did not result in a further increase in frequencies or change in phenotype of MDSC. By investig…
3′-Demethyldihydromaldoxin and dihydromaldoxin, two anti-inflammtory diaryl ethers from a Steganospora species
2012
CXCL10 (IP-10) is a highly inducible chemoattractant, which contributes to the recruitment of inflammatory cells such as macrophages and T-lymphocytes and thereby has important roles in chronic inflammatory conditions. In a search for new inhibitors of CXCL10 expression in MonoMac6 (MM6) cells, the new diaryl ether 3'-demethyldihydromaldoxin (1) along with the known compound dihydromaldoxin (2), were isolated from fermentations of a Steganospora species. The structures of the compounds were elucidated by a combination of one- and two-dimensional NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. Compounds (1) and (2) inhibited lipopolysaccharide (LPS)/interferon-γ (IFN-γ)-induced CXCL10 promoter activ…
Structural analysis of the O-specific polysaccharide isolated from Plesiomonas shigelloides O51 lipopolysaccharide.
2009
Plesiomonasshigelloides strain CNCTC 110/92 (O51) was identified as a new example of plesiomonads synthesising lipopolysaccharides (LPSs) that show preference for a non-aqueous surrounding during phenol/water extraction. Chemical analyses combined with (1)H and (13)C NMR spectroscopy, MALDI-TOF and ESI mass spectrometry showed that the repeating units of the O-specific polysaccharides isolated from phenol and water phase LPSs of P. shigelloides O51 have the same structure: -->4)-beta-D-GlcpNAc3NRA-(1-->4)-alpha-L-FucpAm3OAc-(1-->3)-alpha-D-QuipNAc-(1-->, containing the rare sugar constituent 2,3-diamino-2,3-dideoxyglucuronic acid (GlcpNAc3NRA), and substituents such as D-3-hydroxybutyric ac…
Structural analysis of the lipid A isolated from Hafnia alvei 32 and PCM 1192 lipopolysaccharides[S]
2010
Hafnia alvei, a Gram-negative bacterium, is an opportunistic pathogen associated with mixed hospital infections, bacteremia, septicemia, and respiratory diseases. The majority of clinical symptoms of diseases caused by this bacterium have a lipopolysaccharide (LPS, endotoxin)-related origin. The lipid A structure affects the biological activity of endotoxins predominantly. Thus, the structure of H. alvei lipid A was analyzed for the first time. The major form, asymmetrically hexa-acylated lipid A built of beta-D-GlcpN4P-(1-->6)-alpha-D-GlcpN1P substituted with (R)-14:0(3-OH) at N-2 and O-3, 14:0(3-(R)-O-12:0) at N-2', and 14:0(3-(R)-O-14:0) at O-3', was identified by ESI-MS(n) and MALDI-tim…
Selective killing of human monocytes and cytokine release provoked by sphingomyelinase (beta-toxin) of Staphylococcus aureus.
1996
The best-known activity of Staphylococcus aureus sphingomyelinase C, alias beta-toxin, is as a hemolysin that provokes hot-cold lysis of erythrocytes which contain substantial amounts of sphingomyelin in the plasma membrane. Sheep erythrocytes are most susceptible, and we found that one hemolytic unit, representing the toxin concentration that elicits 50% hemolysis of 2.5 X 10(8) erythrocytes per ml, corresponds to 0.05 enzyme units or to approximately 0.25 microg of sphingomyelinase per ml. The cytotoxic action of beta-toxin on nucleated cells has not been described in any detail before, and the present investigation was undertaken to fill this information gap. We now identify beta-toxin a…
Chitosomes as drug delivery systems for C-phycocyanin: preparation and characterization.
2010
The aim of this work was to investigate chitosomes, i.e. liposomes coated by a polyelectrolyte complex between chitosan (CH) and xantan gum (XG), as potential delivery system for oral administration of the protein C-phycocyanin. To this purpose several CH-XG-microcomplexes were prepared in aqueous lactic acid at different chitosan-xanthan gum percent ratios and rheological properties of the microcomplexes were studied to analyse the contribution of chitosan and xanthan gum in the reaction of microcomplexation. After establishing the best microcomplexes, chitosomes were prepared by coating C-phycocyanin loaded liposomes with the CH-XG hydrogels using spray-drying or freeze-drying. The chitos…
Synthesis, mechanical and thermal rheological properties of new gellan gum derivatives
2017
New derivatives of gellan gum (GG) were prepared by covalent attachment of octadecylamine (C18- NH2) to polysaccharide backbone via amide linkage by using bis(4-nitrophenyl) carbonate (4-NPBC) as a coupling agent. The effect of the alkyl chain grafted onto hydrophilic backbone of high molecular weight GG was investigated in terms of physicochemical properties and ability of new derivatives to form hydrogels. A series of hydrogels was obtained in solutions with different kind and concentration of ions and their stability and mechanical properties were evaluated. The obtained derivatives resulted soluble at temperature lower than starting GG and physicochemical properties of obtained hydrogel…
An efficient acetylation of dextran using in situ activated acetic anhydride with iodine
2010
A facile, efficient, cost-effective and solvent-free acetylation method has been developed for the acetylation of dextran. Dextran acetates were successfully synthesized using different molar ratios of acetic anhydride in the presence of iodine as a catalyst without the use of any solvent. The reactions were realized at 50?C for 3 h under stirring and nitrogen. This efficient method yielded highly pure and organosoluble dextran esters. The reaction appears highly effective for obtaining higher degrees of substitution (DS) with great efficiency. Under solvent-free conditions, dextran triacetates were efficiently synthesized. It was also observed that the molar ratio can easily control the DS…
Photo-Cross-Linked Hydrogels with Polysaccharide−Poly(amino acid) Structure: New Biomaterials for Pharmaceutical Applications
2006
The aim of this work has been the preparation and characterization of novel hydrogels with polysaccharide-poly(amino acid) structure having suitable physicochemical properties for pharmaceutical applications. In the first step, hyaluronic acid (HA) and alpha,beta-poly(N-2-hydroxyethyl)-DL-aspartamide (PHEA) have been derivatized with methacrylic anhydride (AMA), thus obtaining HA-AMA and PHM derivatives, respectively. In the second step, aqueous solutions of both these derivatives have been irradiated at 313 nm to obtain chemical hydrogels. The hydrogel obtained by irradiating for 15 min an aqueous solution containing 4% w/v of HA-AMA and 4% w/v of PHM resulted in the highest yield. Its swe…