Chitosan is derived from chitin by a process of controlled deacetylation. In the present study, we investigated the effects of chitosan on the production of the cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-Ձ (TNF-Ձ), interleukin-1Ղ (IL-1Ղ), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in mice. The culture supernatants of splenocytes exposed with chitosan alone or chitosan plus cell stimulants such as lipopolysaccharide (LPS), concanavalin A (Con A), and phytohemagglutinin-P (PHA-P) were harvested to assay TNF-Ձ, IL-1Ղ, and IL-10 production. TNF-Ձ from splenocytes exposed with chitosan were increased compared to PBS control, but TNF-Ձ in the culture supernatants from splenocytes exposed with LPS＋chitosan or Con A+chitosan for a short time (6 hrs) were lower than that of the groups exposed with LPS or Con A alone. The IL-1Ղ and IL-6 production in the culture supernatants from splenocytes exposed with chitosan were similar to those in PBS control, but IL-1Ղ and IL-6 production in the exposure with LPS+chitosan were higher than those of the groups exposed with LPS only. These findings demonstrate that chitosan upregulates the inflammation reaction by IL-1Ղ and IL-6 and downregulates that by TNF-Ձ in LPS-associated immunity. (Cancer Prev Res 15, 204-210, 2010)

Keywords: Chitosan, TNF-Ձ,, IL-1Ղ,, IL-6, Mice