High molecular weight water-soluble chitosan acts as an accelerator of macrophages activation by recombinant interferon ${\gamma}$ via a process involving $_L$-arginine -dependent nitric oxide production

High molecular weight water-insoluble chitosan alone has been previously shown to exhibit in vitro stimulatory effect on macrophages nitric oxide (NO) production. However, high molecular weight water-soluble chitosan (WSC) had no effect on NO production by itself. When WSC was used in combination with recombinant $interferon-{\gamma}\;(Rifn-{\gamma})$, there was a marked cooperative induction of NO synthesis in a dose-dependent manner. The optimal effect of WSC on NO synthesis was shown at 24 h after treatment with $rIFN-{\gamma}$. The increased production of NO from $rIFN-{\gamma}$ plus WSC-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages was decreased by the treatment with $N^G$ $monomethyl-_L-arginine$. The increase in NO synthesis was reflected, as an increased amounts of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) protein. Synergy between $rIFN-{\gamma}$ and WSC was mainly dependent on WSC-induced nuclear $factor-_KB$ activation. The present results indicate that WSC may provide various activities such as anti-microbial, anti-tumoral, and anti-viral. In addition, since NO has emerged as an important intracellular and intercellular regulatory molecule having functions as diverse as vasodilation, neural communication, cell growth regulation and host defense, it is tempting to hypothesize that this WSC is involved in the local control of the various fundamental processes such as cardiagra, cardiac infarction, impotence etc.