IMMUNE BIOACTIVITY IN SHELLFISH TOWARD SERUM-FREE CULTURED HUMAN CELL-LINES

The biologically functional effect of eight kinds of hot-water extract s of shellfish on cultured human cell lines was examined in a serum-fr ee medium model. Meretrix lusoria and Sinonovacula constricta extracts enhanced IgM secretion of both hybridoma HB4C5 and SI102 cells when c ultured with the respective extracts, The purified principle exhibited remarked activity in the adsorbed fraction in hydroxyapatite and Conc anavalin A columns. The extracts of Corbicula fluminea, Crassostreas g igas, Meretrix lusoria, Anadara granosa, and Sinonovacula constricta e nhanced in nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT)-reducing ability of macrophage U-M cells. Meretrix lusovia, Anadara granosa, and Sinonovacula constri cta were specifically cytotoxic to both cultures of MCF-7 breast cance r cells and NuH-6KK hepatoblastoma. These findings imply that the extr acts of shellfish that were examined exhibited a differential effect o n immune cells and tumor cells.