Research in Medicine

Abstract Background: There are contradictions about the immune modulating properties of chitin in comparison with chitosan. To respond to these contradictions, we investigated stimulatory effects of chitin micro-particles in comparison with chitosan micro-particles on L.major infected cell suspensions. Materials and methods: In this experimental study, Balb/c mice were intradermally infected with 2 × 105 stationary phase of L.major promastigotes into their base of the tail.Two weeks later infectivity were confirmed by PCR then leishmania infected lymph nodes cell suspensions of the mice were isolated. Chitin micro-particles were prepared by sonication and passing the filter and after size determination by mastersizer, used for cell stimulation.Finally,ELISA measured concentrations of TNF-α and IL-10 in cell culture supernatants. Results: We observed chitin micro-particles significantly increase TNF-αand also IL-10 production (P ≤0.001) in compare with chitosan. Conclusion: Chitin micro-particles can stimulate production of TNF-α and IL-10 in leishmania infected cell suspensions. Chitin seems to be utilized as an immunomodulator in Leishmania vaccine or treatment.