[Effects of alginate on Th1/Th2 cytokines in vivo and in vitro of mice spleen lymphocytes].

Objective: To study effects of alginate on Th1/Th2 cytokines in vivo and in vitro of mice spleen lymphocytes.
Methods: In vivo test: Fifteen C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into one negative control group and two Alginate groups, which were respectively given purified water or 0.50, 1.50 g/kg bw alginate everyday. After 30 days, mice spleen lymphocytes were separated and cultured for 48h. Culture supernatant were gathered for analysis of IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, TNF and IFN-gamma with cytometric bead array (CBA). In vitro test: C57BL/6 mice spleen lymphocytes were separated and respectively cultured with 25 mg/ml or 50 mg/ml alginate for 48h, and then culture supernatants were gathered for analysis of IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, TNF and IFN-gamma with cytometric bead array (CBA).
Results: In vivo test: Compared with the negative control, the IFN-gamma of 0.5 g/kg bw and 1.5 g/kg bw alginate groups showed marked elevation (P < 0.01), while IL-2 and IL-4 were both decreased (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). In vitro test: Compared with control group, TNF, IL-2 and IL-4 of 25 mg/ml and 50 mg/ml alginate groups (P < 0.05, P < 0.01) and IL-5 of 50 mg/ml alginate group (P < 0.01) were all increased.
Conclusion: No matter in vivo or in vitro, alginate both can affect the Th1/Th2 cytokines of mice spleen lymphocytes.