The fungal cell wall component beta-1,3-glucan has an adjuvant effect on the allergic response to ovalbumin in mice.
The polyglucose beta-1,3-D-glucan is a major structural component of the cell wall of yeasts and fungi. In the present study, the adjuvant activity of beta-1,3-glucan from the fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (SSG) on the response to the model allergen ovalbumin (OA) was studied, using the popliteal lymph node assay (PLNA) in BALB/c mice. The adjuvant activity on the local cellular response was determined by measuring the weight, cell number, and proliferation of the extracted PLNs. The levels of OA-specific immunoglobulin (Ig)E, IgG1, and IgG2a in serum were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Groups of 8 mice were given either SSG + OA, SSG alone, or OA alone on d 0. Thereafter they were exsanguinated on d 20, or reinjected with OA on d 21, before exsanguination on d 26 or 33. Only on d 26 was SSG + OA found to significantly increase the PLN weight and cell numbers, but not cell proliferation (thymidine incorporation), compared with OA or SSG alone. SSG + OA was also found to significantly increase both the anti-OA IgE and IgG1 levels on d 20, 26, and 33 compared to OA alone. Compared to SSG alone, SSG + OA increased the OA-specific IgE and IgG 1 levels significantly on d 26 and 33, but not on d 20. A similar increase was not found for IgG2a. Our results show that beta-1,3-D-glucan provides a clear Th2-dependent (allergic) immune response to OA, indicated by elevated levels of IgE and IgG1 and not IgG2a, in the mouse model used.
Ormstad
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Department of Environmental Medicine, National Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway. Heidi.Ormstad@Folkehelsa.no
Groeng
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Løvik
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Hetland
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D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001203:Ascomycota / Q000737:chemistry; D002452:Cell Count; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002473:Cell Wall / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D005936:Glucans / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D010047:Ovalbumin / Q000276:immunology*; D047071:beta-Glucans
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D005936:Glucans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D047071:beta-Glucans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D010047:Ovalbumin; C033363:beta-1,3-glucan