Stimulation of various functions in murine peritoneal macrophages by high mannuronic acid-containing alginate (HMA) exposure in vivo.

High mannuronic acid-containing alginate (HMA) was tested to affect murine peritoneal macrophages. In the present study, we measured various functions of murine peritoneal macrophages that were isolated 20 h after intraperitoneal injection with HMA (25 and 100 mg/kg). HMA increased the number of peritoneal macrophages and phagocytosis. Macrophages from HMA-treated mice significantly inhibited growth of tumor cells compared to macrophages from control mice. In addition, supernatants from macrophages of HMA-treated mice contained nitric oxide (NO), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and TNF-alpha. The increased production of these cytotoxic molecules induced by HMA is consistent with tumoricidal activity of activated macrophages. Furthermore, HMA-induced tumoricidal activity was partially abrogated by anti-TNF-alpha, inhibitors of NO and the scavenger of reactive oxygen. Thus, the tumoricidal activity induced by HMA appeared to be mediated by the production of TNF-alpha, NO and H2O2. Taken together, these results suggest that HMA has the immunostimulating effect on macrophages after in vivo exposure of it.