Effect of physical modification on the immunomodulatory activity of carboxymethyl pachymaran

Carboxymethyl pachymaran (CMP) was modified by high temperature (HT), high pressure (HP) and gamma irradiation (GI) to obtain HT-CMP, HP-CMP, and GI-CMP samples, respectively. The effects of different modification methods on the immunomodulatory activity of CMPs were evaluated by cell culture in vitro and animal in vivo tests. The modified CMPs showed a stronger immunomodulatory activity than that of CMP in vitro. The modified CMPs improved the proliferative and phagocytic capacities, the ROS release, the TNF-α cytokine secretion of RAW264.7 compared with the CMP. For in vivo test, we found that the CMP and modified CMPs were able to enhance the immune function in mice with cyclophosphamide (CTX) induced by immunosuppression. All the CMPs could increase the cytokine levels (IL-2, IL-6, IFN-γ, TNF-α) and elevate the mRNA expression of NF-κB and TLRs. Furthermore, CMP, HT-CMP and GI-CMP had an ameliorative effect on intestinal flora disorders and could restore the richness and diversity of intestinal flora. Our results provided a theoretical foundation for the potential development of CMP-based immunomodulatory drugs.