Stimulation of human keratinocyte growth by alginate oligosaccharides, a possible co‐factor for epidermal growth factor in cell culture

Abstract

Oligosaccharides, involved in regulation of plant developmental and defensive processes, were tested to determine their ability to enhance proliferation of human keratinocytes. A mixture of alginate oligosaccharides remarkably stimulated keratinocyte growth and [ 3 H]thymidine uptake in the presence of epidermal growth factor (EGF). The activity was comparable to bovine pituitary extract, a common complement in keratinocyte culture, and additive on BPE-induced stimulation. The most effective oligosaccharide in the mixture was identified and its chemical structure was determined. These findings demonstrate a novel activity of alginate oligosaccharide(s) in keratinocyte growth and suggest a possible co-factor for EGF-dependent stimulation in medium for keratinocytes. © 1997 Federation of European Biochemical Societies.

Effects of sulfated fucan, ascophyllan, from the brown Alga Ascophyllum nodosum on various cell lines: A comparative study on ascophyllan and fucoidan

“…To our knowledge, this is the first report that ascophyllan or even algal-derived sulfated polysaccharides can promote the growth of certain cell lines under normal growth conditions. Regarding the effects of saccharides on the growth of certain mammalian cells, it has been reported that alginate oligosaccharides stimulate or enhance vascular endothelial growth factor-mediated growth of human endothelial cells and the growth of keratinocyte in the presence of epidermal growth factor (32,33). Since no significant effects of alginate oligosaccharides were observed on the cells in the absence of the growth factors, it has been considered that alginate oligosaccharides may stimulate proliferative activity of growth factors by a synergistic mechanism.…”

Swelling and Mechanical Properties of Alginate Hydrogels with Respect to Promotion of Neural Growth

“…56,57 Most recently, wobble oligosaccharide motifs of chondroitin sulfate/dermatan sulfate proteoglycans had been demonstrated to induce signaling pathways that are essential for the proliferation, self-renewal, and cell lineage commitment of neural stem cells. 58 Although stiff alginate hydrogels were described as an inert matrix, alginate-derived oligosaccharides have been reported to costimulate growth factormediated proliferation, migration, and adhesion of endothelial cells, keratinocytes, and skin fibroblasts in vitro; [59][60][61] cytokine production by RAW264.7 cells; 62 and phagocytic activity of peritoneal monocytes. 63 The density of substrateimmobilized signaling molecules is crucial to initiate extracellular signaling events that lead to cell differentiation, adhesion, growth, and migration, and this must be considered during scaffold designing.…”

Structure and Function of Bacterial Super-Biosystem Responsible for Import and Depolymerization of Macromolecules

“…The depolymerized products of alginate and gellan obtained with alginate lyase and gellan lyase respectively also promote the differentiation and proliferation of human epithelium cells, 121) indicating that these oligosaccharides might be applicable as epidermal growth factors in place of bovine pituitary extract, the utilization of which is thought to be hazardous due to the occurrence of bovine spongiform encephalopathy. 124) Although oligosaccharides have been reported to act as chemical messages for the regulation of physiological processes, much less is known about their intrinsic functions with respect to promotion of the proliferation and differentiation of plant and mammalian cells. Elucidation of the sites, modes of action, and ultimate fates of oligosaccharides would be a step toward an understanding of the mechanisms underlying the promotion of proliferation and differentiation processes.…”