Low molecular weight fraction of shark cartilage can modulate immune responses and abolish angiogenesis

Abstract

Shark cartilage has proven to have inhibitory effects on angiogenesis. In this research, we studied the effects of shark cartilage on the immune system. Firstly, we isolated and purified a shark cartilage protein fraction with the most immunostimulatory effects. Our fraction was composed of two proteins with molecular weights of about 14 and 15 kDa. This fraction highly augments delayed-type hypersensitivity response against sRBC in mice, and decreases the cytotoxic activity of Natural Killer cells. Furthermore, intraperitoneal injection of this fraction to tumor-bearing mice could increase T-cell infiltration into the tumor, and decrease the tumor lesion size. Also, this fraction has strong inhibitory effect on HBMEC proliferation and migration in fibrin matrix. According to these results, we suppose that this fraction is a good candidate for further studies in cancer therapy.