IMMUNOSUPPRESSIVE EFFECTS OF 3,4-DIDEOXYGLUCOSONE-3-ENE, AND INTERMEDIATE IN THE MAILLARD REACTION

3,4-Dideoxyglucosone-3-ene (DGE), an intermediate in the Maillard reaction, was found in Sargassum kjellmanianum Yendo, a kind of brown seaweed, which has been reported to have immunosuppressive activities. DGE was isolated from the seaweed and studied its biological activity, focusing on immune functions. As a result, DGE had marked suppressive effects on T cell proliferation, antibody production from B cells, and IL1 production from M phi, but not on the proliferationn of bone marrow cells, L929 fibroblastoma, and B16 melanoma. The suppressive activity seems to be selective for the immune cells. Furthermore, the treatment with DGE was effective on not only the delayed-type hypersensitivity model of mouse but also the collagen-induced mouse arthritis model. These findings suggest that DGE acts on immune responses in vivo.