Role of chitosan oligomers in regulation of ehrlich ascites tumor cells proliferation in vitro

Preliminary studies of proliferation of Ehrlich ascites tumor (EAT) cells and normal mammary gland epithelial cells have demonstrated the process to be inhibited by degradation products of microcrystalline chitosan, i.e. oligomers. Inhibition of proliferation has been also accompanied by a decreased activity of the M2 pyruvate kinase (PK) isoenzyme in nucleoplasm, what may indicate the role of this enzyme in regulation of tumor cell proliferation. Determinations of nitrogen oxide in tumor and normal cells point to a higher level of this endogenous effector in normal cells. An increase of nitrogen oxide levels in Ehrlich ascites tumor cells effected by chitosan oligomers may indicate increased nitrosylation, and particularly an increased amount of compounds containing sulfhydryl groups and their participation in regulation of nucleoplasm M2 PK isoenzyme activity. Chitosan oligomers have smaller molecules as compared to microcrystalline chitosan and for this reason appear to be more effective than the latter in acting upon the negatively charged cell membrane surfaces, thus contributing to proliferation inhibition.