Studies on optimal dose and administration schedule of a hematopoietic stimulatory β-(1,4)-linked mannan

Several complex carbohydrates have been found to significantly stimulate hematopoiesis. CARN 750, a polydispersed β-(1,4)-linked acetylated mannan isolated from the Aloe vera plant, has been shown to have activity in wound repair, to function as a antineoplastic, and to activate macrophages. We report, herein, the hematoaugmenting properties of CARN 750 and its optimal dose and timing of administration in an animal model of irradiation-induced myelosuppression. We observed that subcutaneous injections of 1 mg/animal of CARN 750 had equal or greater stimulatory activity for white blood cell (WBC) counts and spleen cellularity as well as on the absolute numbers of neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes and platelets than did higher or lower doses of CARN 750 or an optimal dose of granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF). Hematopoietic progenitors, measured as interleukin-3-supported colony forming units-culture (CFU-C) and high proliferative potential colony-forming cells (HPP-CFC) assays, were similarly increased by CARN 750 in the spleen but not in the bone marrow. The frequency of splenic HPP-CFCs and absolute number of splenic HPP-CFCs and CFU-Cs were optimally increased by 1 mg/animal of CARN 750. In contrast, bone marrow cellularity, frequency and absolute number of HPP-CFCs and CFU-Cs had as a dosage optimum 2 mg/animal of CARN 750. These parameters were similarly increased by G-CSF. In studies to determine the optimal protocol for the administration of CARN 750 we found that the hematopoietic activity of CARN 750 increased with the frequency of administration. The greatest activity in myelosuppressed mice was observed for all hematopoietic parameters except the platelet number in mice receiving daily administration of 1 mg/animal of CARN 750 with activity equal to or greater than G-CSF.