Chitooligosaccharides from the shrimp chitosan hydrolysate induces differentiation of murine RAW264.7 macrophages into dendritic-like cells

•Oligomixture and LMWC with different Mw were isolated from chitosan hydrolysate.•Both LMWC and oligomixture inhibited the superoxide production in RAW264.7 cells.•Oligomixture, but not LMWC, induced DC-like morphological changes in RAW264.7 cells.•Oligomixture induced G0/G1 phase cell cycle arrest in RAW264.7 cells.•Oligomixture promoted the expression of mature DC-associated cell markers.