The effects of Yam polysaccharides on acrylamide-induced RAW264.7 cell polarization

We previously found that acrylamide (AA) damaged RAW264.7 cells (a kind of macrophages) by up-regulating P2X7 protein level, and Yam polysaccharides (YPS) could protect RAW264.7 cells against AA injury. Macrophages polarization may generate various subtypes which are closely related with cell function. However, how AA and YPS influence RAW264.7 polarization is unknown. In this study, we studied the effects of AA and YPS on the polarization of RAW264.7 cells. The killing effect of RAW264.7 cell on tumor cells has also been evaluated. The results showed that AA caused cell polarization towards M1-like macrophages by elevating CD86 and COX-2 protein expression and decreasing CD206 protein expression. Inhibiting the expression of P2X7 protein could effectively interfere with AA-induced M1 polarization. YPS could modulate AA-induced M1 polarization by reducing the ratio of CD86/CD206 but not COX-2 protein expression. RAW264.7 cell medium treated with AA had no effect on HepG2 cancer cell viability, but RAW264.7 cell medium treated with YPS significantly inhibited HepG2 cell viability. These findings suggested that YPS could regulate AA-induced RAW264.7 polarization and improve cell function. The results will provide reference for further explaining the mechanism of YPS intervening in toxic AA.