The study's background and aim: In this investigation, the safety property of M2000 (β-D-mannuronic acid) on differentiation, maturation and function of dendritic cells, was determined. β-D-mannuronic acid, as a novel immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory agent, has been tested in various experimental models. In addition, DC-based immunosuppressive drugs can suppress the progression of autoimmune diseases, although, their notable side effects in increasing the risk of infectious diseases and cancers should be considered.
Materials and methods: The effect of M2000 on differentiation, maturation and function of dendritic cells was examined. To investigate how M2000 affects human dendritic cells (DC) in a defined inflammatory environment, human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were isolated from healthy blood and monocytes were purified using anti-CD14 microbeads. Monocytes were incubated with M2000 in two different doses (6 and 12 J.g/well) along with adding the granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and interleukin-4 for inducing monocytes to immature DC and lipopolysaccharide for running DC maturation. The differentiation, maturation and function of dendritic cells were examined with flow cytometry and ELISA method.
Result: The results demonstrate that M2000 has no significant side on differentiation, maturation and function of dendritic cells in immature DC and mature DC process in vitro.
Conclusion: Our findings show that β-D-mannuronic acid (m2000) as a safe agent had no adverse effect on differentiation, maturation and function of dendritic cells which might be recommended as a novel immunosuppressive agent with no or fewer side effects in increasing the risk of infectious diseases and cancers.