title: Stimulation of human monocyte beta-glucan receptors by glucan particles induces production of TNF-alpha and IL-1 beta.
abstract: beta-glucans are pharmacologic agents that rapidly enhance host resistance to a variety of biologic insults through mechanisms involving macrophage activation. To determine whether stimulation of the beta-glucan receptors on human monocytes resulted in cytokine production, monolayers of monocytes were incubated with purified yeast glucan particles and measured for tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) mRNA and protein. By Northern blot analysis, TNF-alpha mRNA was detected within 30 min of incubation with glucan particles, peaked at 2 h, and remained elevated for at least 8 h. Glucan induction of IL-1 beta mRNA followed a similar time-course of initiation and accumulation. By enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs), significant levels of TNF-alpha and IL-1 beta were present in supernatants of glucan-treated cells within 1 h and plateau levels of both cytokines were approached within 4 h. At particle-to-cell ratios of from 0.4 to 18, glucan particles induced dose-dependent increases in TNF-alpha and IL-1 beta mRNA and corresponding increases in TNF-alpha and IL-1 beta proteins. Exposure of monocytes to glucan particles for 0-30 min and washing before continued incubation for 4 h in particle-free buffer induced production and secretion of TNF-alpha and IL-1 beta in a time-dependent fashion compatible with phagocytosis. The pretreatment of monocyte monolayers with trypsin reduced glucan-induced production of TNF-alpha and IL-1 beta in a dose-dependent manner with 5 micrograms/ml of trypsin effecting reductions of greater than 50%. Thus, glucan particles induce human monocyte production of TNF-alpha and IL-1 beta by a mechanism that is dependent on trypsin-sensitive beta-glucan receptors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Abel
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Czop
mesh_terms: D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005936:Glucans / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D009000:Monocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000187:drug effects*; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects; D014357:Trypsin / Q000494:pharmacology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D005936:Glucans; D007375:Interleukin-1; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; C045268:beta-glucan receptor; D014357:Trypsin