title: Enhancement of radioprotection and anti-tumor immunity by yeast-derived beta-glucan in mice.
abstract: Intraperitoneal injection of beta-glucan was shown to greatly delay mortality in mice exposed to whole-body X-ray radiation and tumor growth in tumor-bearing mice. Since the leukocyte and lymphocyte numbers were increased by a single dose of beta-glucan, the radioprotective effect of beta-glucan is probably mediated, at least in part, by a hemopoietic action in irradiated mice. In addition, both natural killer (NK) and lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) activities were significantly increased by repeated doses of beta-glucan. Augmented immunological activity as seen in increased NK and LAK activity by beta-glucan seems to play a role in preventing secondary infections associated with irradiation, and probably contributes to the attenuated tumor growth in tumor-bearing mice through enhanced anti-tumor immunity. These results suggest that beta-glucan may be a promising adjunct treatment for cancer patients receiving radiotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiological Technology, Suzuka University of Medical Science, Suzuka, Japan.
authors.forename: Yeun-Hwa
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.forename: Yasuyuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Takagi
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: Takeo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hasegawa
authors.forename: Ikukatsu
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: Masami
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Oshima
authors.forename: Hitoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tawaraya
authors.forename: Yoshimi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Niwano
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D015979:Killer Cells, Lymphokine-Activated / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D011897:Random Allocation; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D047071:beta-Glucans / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D047071:beta-Glucans