Therapeutic promise of a sulfated (1 → 4) galactan from edible sea grape Caulerpa racemosa: modulation of cytokine expression in lipopolysaccharide-induced CALU-1 cells

Shilpa, K P and Chakraborty, Kajal and Pai, Ashwin A and Dhara, Subhajit (2025) Therapeutic promise of a sulfated (1 → 4) galactan from edible sea grape Caulerpa racemosa: modulation of cytokine expression in lipopolysaccharide-induced CALU-1 cells. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 313. pp. 1-11.

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Abstract

Sulfated polysaccharides from edible marine algae have gained significant attention for their remarkable nutritional and therapeutic potential. Caulerpa racemosa (sea grape), a widely consumed edible algae, is a source of bioactive compounds with significant medicinal potential. This study focuses on CRP-2, a sulfated (1 → 4) galactan derived from C. racemosa, and its anti-inflammatory effects in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced CALU-1 cells. CRP-2, at a concentration of 125 μg/mL, reduced the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin1β and tumor necrosis factor-α by 41–49 % in CALU-1 cells. Additionally, it significantly downregulated transforming growth factor-β levels, as indicated by a decrease in mean fluorescence intensity from 20 to 4 units, compared to cells treated with LPS alone. Concurrently, downregulated expressions level of interleukin-33, interferon-α and interleukin-10 in LPS-induced CALU-1 cells were substantially elevated after the treatment with CRP-2 (mean fluorescence intensities 25–35-fold), in a dose-dependent manner. Gene expression analysis by qRT-PCR revealed downregulation of interferon-γ levels by 2 folds (at 125 μg/mL) from an overly expressed levels of 9-fold in LPS-induced cells. Structure-activity and molecular docking analyses emphasized the role of sulfate moieties in its bioactivity. These findings highlight the potential of CRP-2 as a natural anti-inflammatory agent and suggest its promise as a functional food ingredient with notable health benefits.

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